Why is Boris Johnson being accused of ‘cash for votes’?

Reports that Tory whips tried to ‘blackmail’ their own MPs may face an investigation, writes Jon Stone

The outcome of any investigation rests with the ultimate arbiter of enforcing the ministerial code – a certain Alexander Boris Pfeffel Johnson (AFP/Getty)

Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey has written to the Cabinet secretary Simon Case asking him to launch a "cash for votes" inquiry into the government.

The allegation is that Tory whips last week used the threat of funding cuts to encourage MPs to vote with the government.

The claim is that this is not only unfair, but illegal, as it would amount to a misuse of public funds.