Christian Wakeford: Ex-Tory MP 'threatened' over Bury high school funding

An ex-Tory MP who defected to Labour said he was threatened he would not get a high school in his constituency if he did not vote in a certain way.

Bury South MP Christian Wakeford said it made him start to question his place within the Conservative Party.

It comes after MP William Wragg accused the government of trying to "blackmail" its own MPs to stop them plotting against the prime minister.

But Boris Johnson said he had not seen any evidence to support the claim.

Mr Wakeford, who had been a Conservative Party member for nearly 20 years, announced his decision to switch sides moments before Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday.

He took the Bury South seat from Labour at the 2019 general election by just 402 votes but will now sit as a Labour MP.

Speaking to BBC North West Tonight in Bury earlier, he said: "I was threatened that I would not get the school for Radcliffe if I did not vote in one particular way.

"This is a town that's not had a high school for the best part of 10 years.

"How would you feel when holding back regeneration of a town for a vote, it didn't sit comfortably.

"That was really starting to question my place where I was and ultimately to where I am now."

A Labour source said the vote in question related to free school meals.

Bury county councillor Mike Smith, who represents Radcliffe West on the local authority, said planning permission was due to be sought for the school early this year and the first intake of pupils should be in September 2024.

He said it "would be disappointing" if the school's funding had been used as a threat.

Mr Smith, part of the independent party Radcliffe First, added: "I have emailed both the councillor at Bury who is in charge of regeneration and the person who is in charge of the school asking for their input as to whether there is any truth to this, and whether there is any threat to the funding.

"Reading his comments, it would be very surprising if there was. I'm taking it that this is quite historical."

Mr Wakeford made the comments after introducing Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves for her speech at The Met theatre in the town.

During his speech, Mr Wakeford said Labour was "ready to provide an alternative government that this country can be proud of" and had become "the party of economic competence".

Mr Johnson is facing down an attempt from some Tory MPs to oust him as leader over lockdown parties held in Downing Street.

Earlier, Conservative MP Mr Wragg, who is among those calling on the prime minister to resign, said rebels had faced "pressures and intimidation" from ministers.

He said the conduct of the Government Whips' Office threatening to withdraw public funding from MPs' constituencies may have breached the ministerial code.

But Mr Johnson insisted he had not seen any evidence to support Mr Wragg's claims of intimidatory tactics against Tory critics.

He said he would "of course" look for evidence to support the allegations made by Mr Wragg.

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