Westminster ‘honey trap’ scandal: Tory MP admits leaking numbers

LONDON — A senior Conservative MP admitted leaking personal phone numbers of colleagues who were later targeted in the honey trap scandal that has shaken Westminster politics.

William Wragg, chairman of the Commons public administration committee, said he was "mortified" after giving numbers to a man he encountered on the dating app Grindr who “had compromising things on me.”

He told the Times: “They wouldn’t leave me alone. They would ask for people. I gave them some numbers, not all of them. I told him to stop. He’s manipulated me and now I’ve hurt other people.”

POLITICO first revealed Wednesday that MPs, staffers and journalists in Westminster had been targeted with alluring WhatsApp messages from two unknown phone numbers that, in several cases, escalated to the sender sending explicit images.

Not all of those targeted had met Wragg in the past, and several raised questions about whether he would have had their number.

To date 13 men are known to have received messages, with at least five reporting them to the Parliamentary Security Department. The true number targeted may never be known. Some senior Tories have suggested a foreign state could be behind the attack.

Shortly before Wragg spoke, POLITICO revealed police in Leicestershire were investigating “a report of malicious communications” following a formal complaint from a serving MP.

The Conservative Whips’ office declined to comment because a police investigation is under way.

Mortified

Wragg is the MP for Hazel Grove in Greater Manchester, and has already announced he is standing down at the next election.

He told the Times: “I got chatting to a guy on an app and we exchanged pictures. We were meant to meet up for drinks, but then didn’t. Then he started asking for numbers of people. I was worried because he had stuff on me. He gave me a WhatsApp number, which doesn’t work now.

“I’ve hurt people by being weak. I was scared. I’m mortified. I’m so sorry that my weakness has caused other people hurt.”

The messages received by all the men tended to arrive late at night, claim they had met their targets in a Westminster bar or political event, and use similar phrases like “had a little flirt.”

In one message seen by POLITICO, the sender — giving their name as “Charlie” — told a victim he they previously worked for Wragg.

The Parliamentary Security Department is working with “partners in government” to “analyze and understand the nature of these messages and any related security risk,” House of Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle told MPs and staff Thursday.

The speaker asked anyone affected to report the messages to parliament’s security team.

In a statement issued to POLITICO, a U.K. parliamentary spokesperson said: “Parliament takes cyber security extremely seriously. We provide Members and staff with tailored advice, making them aware of cyber risks and how to manage their digital safety – including on any personal devices and accounts.

"We are encouraging any pass holders who have concerns to contact the Parliamentary Security Department.”