THE SNP MP Pete Wishart has called on Labour to make a formal complaint to the Metropolitan Police about Boris Johnson and other senior Tories.

Wishart wrote to Cressida Dick, Met Police Commissioner yesterday, asking her to investigate the Prime Minister and his predecessors following reports that Tory donors who had given more than £3 million to the party had been elevated to the Lords.

The MP for Perth and North Perthshire, and the SNP’s shadow commons leader, wrote to Dame Cressida ahead of the Commons debate on the Government’s attempt to change the was MPs are investigated for rule-breaking.

READ MORE: Pete Wishart asks police to investigate Tory ‘cash for honours’ scandal

In his letter, he said he was concerned about “criminal misconduct” by Johnson, and previous Tory Prime Ministers as well as other senior Conservatives.

Wishart today told The National he would be writing today to Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer asking him to make a separate complaint to the Met.

He said Labour MP Steve Reed this morning said the party would support the SNP over the complaint and they would be hoping an investigation takes place. Plaid Cymru have also lodged a complaint.

Tony Blair's Labour Government was rocked in 2006 when the SNP's Angus MacNeil wrote to the Met alleging wealthy party donors had been given peerages.

"It is quite encouraging particularly when Labour had their own issues 15 years ago," he said.

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"I will be writing to Keir Starmer today to say it would be helpful if they were to put in a formal request to the Met for an investigation. Plaid Cymru have put in their own complaint."

In his letter to Dick yesterday Wishart wrote: “I write to inform you of potential criminal misconduct regarding the procurement of honours and membership of the House of Lords.

“The emerging allegations, which have been widely referred to as the 'cash for honours scandal, are deeply undermining public trust and confidence.

“These widespread allegations and suspicion of criminal activity need to be urgently addressed. I, therefore, believe it is now essential that a formal criminal investigation is now initiated by the Metropolitan Police.”

Wishart claimed there could be breaches of the law under the Honours (Prevention of Abuses) Act 1925.

Wishart's letter cited a joint investigation by Open Democracy and the Sunday Times, and continued: "Since the Conservative party returned to power in 2010, successive Prime Ministers have elevated nine of the party's former treasurers to the House of Lords.

"Each of those appointed since 2014 has donated at least £3 million. Any investigation must uncover any process or link between these donations and the subsequent appointment of these individuals to the House of Lords.

"In total, twenty two of the Conservative party's biggest financial contributors have been made members of the House of Lords in the past eleven years.

"Together they have donated some £54m to the Tories. I believe that it is only right to investigate whether these donations were, in fact, rewarded with honours."

Speaking on Sky News this morning Wishart has said he was “not accusing anyone of anything” in asking the Metropolitan Police to investigate allegations that Tory donors had been given seats in the House of Lords.

The National:

He said: “What we’ve done in the course of the past few days is the Pandora’s box marked Tory sleaze has been opened for full examination, and what a rotten septic cesspit we found that to be.”

Labour’s Steve Reed said the party is calling on Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove to “come clean” about conversations between ministers and MPs about how money is applied to different constituencies.

The shadow secretary of state for communities and local government told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “There’s growing concern that ministers are misusing their power and potentially breaching the ministerial code of conduct to coerce MPs by making threats to funding for their constituents and that is a severely damaging approach for the Government to be taking.”

He added: “What we’ve had is a whole series of questions raised about how these different pots of money, different regeneration funds, are being governed and how they’re being applied to different constituencies.

“And what we’re calling on Michael Gove today to do – the Secretary of State for Levelling Up – is to come clean about all conversations between ministers and MPs about the proposed bids, whether that’s the towns fund, the levelling up fund or other regeneration funds, but also to be clear about what the selection criteria are for funding so that it’s no longer possible, if that was published, for ministers to corruptly seek to influence decisions in order to coerce MPs.”

UK Cabinet minister Dominic Raab has insisted there is “absolutely no question” of the Government being involved in a cash for honours scandal.

The National:

The Justice Secretary and Deputy Prime Minister said opposition parties were making “political points” by asking the Metropolitan Police to investigate.

He told Sky News no-one was suggesting any wronging in regard to political donations.

Raab added: “In relation to becoming appointed to the House of Lords there’s also very clear rules.

“I would just say that, of course, people who are entrepreneurs but also engaged in public service, whether that’s charities, whether that’s supporting political parties, do a public service.

“And certainly we benefit when the Conservative Party has a treasurer… people who’ve got that kind of experience.”

The Metropolitan Police has been contacted for comment. 

Labour have been approached to see if the party is making a complaint to the Met.