What the papers say – January 21
Today’s papers carry claims Boris Johnson’s allies used “blackmail” and other “dirty tactics” to intimidate Tory defectors plotting his ousting.
Metro writes rebel Conservatives were “blackmailed to back Boris”, citing allegations by William Wragg that MPs were threatened with damaging press stories and funding cuts to their constituencies.
Friday's front page:
BLACKMAILED TO BACK BORIS#TomorrowsPapersToday #BBCPapers #skypapers pic.twitter.com/R2mtlt0oSm— Metro Newspaper UK (@MetroUKNews) January 20, 2022
The Guardian also splashes with allegations “dirty tactics” have been employed by Tory whips to douse no-confidence votes.
Guardian front page, Friday 21 January 2022: Tories 'using dirty tactics' to get MPs to back Johnson pic.twitter.com/IbvyrLLCZp
— The Guardian (@guardian) January 20, 2022
The Daily Mirror focuses on blackmail claims made by Christian Wakeford who defected to Labour this week, citing the MP as saying: “I was threatened that I would not get (a new school for Radcliffe) if I did not vote in one particular way”.
Tomorrow's front page: Lowest of the low https://t.co/xkzeXtzw6y #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/axfDa0gTTR
— The Mirror (@DailyMirror) January 20, 2022
The Independent quotes rebel Tory MP Andrew Bridgen as saying: “I was one of the first MPs out of the blocks calling for Boris Johnson to go, and within days there was a smear story out there. That wasn’t just to intimidate me, it was used to intimidate other people”.
The Independent: Tory rebels: We’re being hounded by PM’s allies #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/OmK2b0wHbE
— Helena Wilkinson (@BBCHelena) January 20, 2022
The PM’s position is precarious as Conservative rebels regroup ahead of Sue Gray’s report into No 10’s lockdown parties, i reports. The paper cites a Cabinet minister who said Mr Johnson faces a “death by a thousand cuts”.
Friday's front page: Tory civil war over future of Johnson #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/H9jFKMq7vD
— i newspaper (@theipaper) January 20, 2022
The Daily Star continues with its “lame duck” theme in response to the political crisis and appears to have sent one of its reporters to Downing Street dressed as a duck.
Tomorrow's front page: Jeff: Help me live forever#tomorrowspaperstodayhttps://t.co/htrYwj0KzH pic.twitter.com/8KbW4DKmA5
— Daily Star (@dailystar) January 20, 2022
Elsewhere, the Daily Express writes the Chancellor is considering a one-off £500 pay-out to Britons struggling with household energy costs.
Front page: Cash help for millions in energy bills crisis #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/FdoadWDYSH
— Daily Express (@Daily_Express) January 20, 2022
The Daily Mail writes unions are “at war” with the PM over his push to get workers, particularly civil servants, back in the office.
Friday's @DailyMailUK #MailFrontPages pic.twitter.com/Za6pSvoBPu
— Daily Mail U.K. (@DailyMailUK) January 20, 2022
The Daily Telegraph reports on the public’s reaction to the easing of Covid restrictions, writing schools are defying Mr Johnson on masks with “over 100 head teachers” telling parents that students need to continue wearing masks in the classroom.
The front page of tomorrow's Daily Telegraph:
'Schools defy PM on masks in class'#TomorrowsPapersToday
Sign up for the Front Page newsletterhttps://t.co/x8AV4Oomry pic.twitter.com/9uAJwyOuSI— The Telegraph (@Telegraph) January 20, 2022
And the Financial Times reports Ukraine has “hit back at (US President) Joe Biden’s suggestion that a ‘minor incursion’ by Russian forces into the country might not prompt a severe allied response”.
Just published: front page of the Financial Times, UK edition, Friday 21 January https://t.co/WA4j1scXg5 pic.twitter.com/CfpLF2LfW3
— Financial Times (@FinancialTimes) January 20, 2022