Facts

Boris Johnson was referring to the allegations of blackmail and intimidation directed at Tory MPs who are lacking confidence in the PM. 

Tory backbencher William Wragg had accused Downing Street of trying to "blackmail" MPs seeking to oust Boris Johnson. 

Chris Bryant, chairman of the Commons Committee on Standards, said he had spoken to about a dozen Tory MPs in late January who had made similar allegations of whips threatening to withdraw funding for their constituencies, including for campaigning and infrastructure such as bypasses and schools. 

Speaking to BBC Radio 4, he said: "I've even heard MPs alleging that the Prime Minister himself has been doing this.”

Verdict

It is impossible to prove that Boris Johnson was lying when he said that he had neither seen nor heard evidence of bullying or intimidation. Coming from a Prime Minister with a record of integrity such an assurance would carry weight. Sadly claims like this made by Boris Johnson are worthless.

We approached Mr Johnson’s office, the Cabinet Office and the No 10 Press Office to give him a chance to comment, but received no response.