UK: Tory MP Admits Involvement in Westminster 'Honeytrap' Scandal

Senior Conservative Party lawmaker William Wragg recently confessed that he gave the personal number of fellow MPs to someone he met on the dating app Grindr.

The Tory MP exclusively told The Times that he shared the contacts, adding that he was "scared" that the person he met had information about him.

He apologized for hurting people by being weak.

"They had compromising things on me. They wouldn't leave me alone," he told the Times. "I was scared. I'm mortified. I'm so sorry that my weakness has caused other people hurt."

The confession came amid reports that at least 12 men in Westminster had received unsolicited texts and naked pictures from an unknown number.

A Leicestershire Police spokesperson said they were investigating one of the cases reported last month.

Wragg became an MP for the Greater Manchester constituency of Hazel Grove in 2015 and announced in 2022 that he would not be running in the next election.

He has not responded to reporters' requests for comment.

Conservative MP Bob Seely told the BBC that he had "great sympathy" for Wragg and that it was "not the first" time it had happened.

"I'm afraid this is part of a modern political life, whether it's honeytraps, cyber-attacks or phishing of some kind or other," he said.

Meanwhile, a Parliamentary spokesperson said that they take the security of lawmakers "extremely seriously," and Westminster has been working "closely with [the] government in response to such incidents."

"We provide members and staff with tailored advice, making them aware of security risks and how to manage their digital safety," the statement added. "We are encouraging anyone affected who has concerns to contact the Parliamentary Security Department."

Ex-MP Reveals Honeytrap Experience to BBC

One former MP also told the BBC that he was one of the targets of the suspected honeytrap attempt. The ex-politician blocked the WhatsApp number from someone calling themselves "Charlie."

However, it was only after he read a story on the news website Politico that he realized that he was one of those targeted by the attempted honeytrap.

"My heart did start racing because I thought everything you're saying from the start, from the name of the individual, the familiarity, this is too close to be just a coincidence," the ex-MP told the BBC.

The former MP, who is gay, also told the British public broadcaster that he was first contacted via WhatsApp on the evening of Mar. 11.

"The last part of that message was 'Westminster misses you...' and that was basically something that friends usually say anyway to make me feel better," he added. I was starting to feel bad, actually. I was embarrassed thinking I'm speaking to someone who knows who I am, and I'm trying desperately not to come across as rude."

The former MP explained that he was in a relationship, but further flirtatious messages followed. Once "Charlie" sent an explicit message, the ex-MP blocked him.

"The fact that somebody tried to and that their intent behind it was probably to do harm is really worrying," he further told the BBC. "I was oblivious to it."

In the aftermath of the incident, the former MP hoped to raise awareness about what happened so others would come forward.

He added that he was shocked at the discovery of Wragg's involvement in the honeytrap scandal.

"He's a friend, my heart goes out to him and I certainly don't hold any ill-will towards him," he said. "I want him to know that."