There are calls for the government to confirm whether or not they threatened to block funding in areas where an MP voted against them.

It follows a report in the Financial Times that Tories were instructed to vote against sanctions on Owen Paterson.

Croydon North MP, Steve Reed, is the shadow local government Secretary, and is writing to Michael Gove over the matter.

He’s calling for the details on which areas receive money from three new government funds to be published.

We’ve contacted the government for comment.