A Tory MP has admitted he was concerned within the “honeytrap” sexting scandal that has rocked Westminster amid revelations a minister and different MPs had been focused by a collection of phishing assaults.
William Wragg, a senior Conservative, mentioned he handed over private telephone numbers of colleagues to an individual he met on the relationship app Grindr, fearing he could be blackmailed, The Instances reported.
Wragg revealed he was involved the consumer “had compromising issues on me” after sending intimate photos of himself.
It got here after a collection of reviews that MPs, their employees members and political journalists have been focused, underlining fears over lax cybersecurity on the coronary heart of British politics.
Wragg, the vice chairman of the 1922 committee of Tory MPs, mentioned: “I obtained chatting to a man on an app and we exchanged photos. We have been meant to fulfill up for drinks, however then didn’t. Then he began asking for numbers of individuals. I used to be fearful as a result of he had stuff on me. He gave me a WhatsApp quantity, which doesn’t work now.
“I’ve damage folks by being weak. I used to be scared. I’m mortified. I’m so sorry that my weak spot has induced different folks damage.”
These focused by the phishing assault have been reportedly despatched unsolicited messages on WhatsApp from senders figuring out themselves as “Charlie” or “Abi”. Not less than 12 males working in parliament have been focused, it’s reported.
Leicestershire police is investigating after receiving a grievance of “malicious communications” towards a parliamentarian.
Lindsay Hoyle, the Commons speaker, has additionally mentioned the parliamentary safety division is wanting into the difficulty.
Wragg has beforehand introduced he’s standing down as an MP on the subsequent election
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