READERS have given their opinion following allegations of blackmail in the Conservative Party.

Downing Street is resisting opening an investigation into allegations of Tory MPs being blackmailed into supporting Prime Minister Boris Johnson as he faces a threat to his leadership, despite a Cabinet minister saying they need to be looked at.

South Cumbrian MPs Tim Farron and Simon Fell clashed in opinion last week over the allegations.

Tim Farron, South Lakes MP, said: "If true... this would be nothing short of corruption and must be investigated by the Metropolitan Police."

Simon Fell, Barrow MP, said: "I haven't seen anything like this happening at all - putting a bid in for a new project or funding means following a formal process which is rightly civil-service led - that very fact means that threats like these just don't ring true."

Mail readers have voiced their opinions on the blackmail allegations.

One reader said: "It doesn't matter what has been done they will lie about everything, but come the next election the public will have their say.

"I've been a life long supporter, not any more, as well as all the pensioners that have been robbed."

Colin Ohalloran said: "There should be an election now."

Another said: "There should be a national petition people could sign let the British public decide, not MPs and Home Office officials - it's what we think, not them."

Another reader said: "High time we started calling it what it is, it's corruption pure and simple.

"If it was happening in a developing country they wouldn't be calling it sleaze."