Senior Tory admits leaking MPs phone numbers in honeytrap sext scandal

A senior Conservative MP admits his involvement in the sexting scandal targeting a minister and fellow MPs: ‘I’ve hurt people by being weak. I was scared. I’m mortified. I’m so sorry’.

William Wragg handed colleagues’ phone numbers to a man he met on a gay dating app

A senior Conservative MP has admitted his involvement in a honeytrap sexting scandal targeting a minister and fellow MPs.

William Wragg, chairman of a Commons select committee, told The Times he handed over the personal phone numbers of colleagues to a man he met on Grindr, a gay dating app.

The vice-chairman of the 1922 Committee of Tory backbenchers said that he provided the details after sending intimate pictures of himself to the user. Wragg said he was “scared” that the man “had compromising things on me”.

Those colleagues - who included several MPs, members of their staff and a political journalist - were sent unsolicited flirtatious messages from senders identifying themselves as “Charlie” or “Abi”. It is understood that two MPs responded by sending an explicit picture of themselves.

The scandal, which has heightened concerns over the vulnerability of MPs to cyberattacks, is now the subject of an investigation by Leicestershire police, which has received a complaint of “malicious communications” against an MP. Experts believe it was an incident of “spearphishing”, a technique used to gather highly personal, sensitive or compromising material.

The Times approached Wragg, 36, after speaking to victims who believed he was involved. The MP for Hazel Grove, who is openly gay, said he was “mortified” and apologised for his “weakness”.

Conservative MP William Wragg said he was ‘mortified’ after passing an MPs’ data on to a dating app contact. Picture: Pru/AFP

He said: “They had compromising things on me. 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.

“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 my weakness has caused other people hurt.”

On Wednesday Politico reported that MPs had been sent late-night texts from an unknown number. The sender would explain that they had met years ago, usually in one of the parliamentary bars. The person identified themselves as “Charlie” or “Abi”, from a phone number with a profile picture featuring a man in a white T-shirt having a meal with a woman in a blue and white dress.

William Wragg handed over the personal phone numbers of colleagues to a man he met on Grindr, a gay dating app. Picture: Thomas Trutschel/Photothek via Getty Images

To male MPs targeted, “Charlie” also provided a picture featuring him dressed in a white T-shirt in what appears to be a bar.

Soon into the conversation, men targeted by “Charlie” were sent an explicit picture and asked to reciprocate. Many blocked “Charlie” or did not reply. However, The Times understands two MPs did respond by sending an explicit picture of themselves.

“Charlie” said he used to work in parliament and bragged of having had sex with Tory and Labour MPs. When questioned by one MP on who he worked for, “Charlie” said he had had an internship with Wragg in 2022. Wragg denied this.

Wragg’s connection to the scandal emerged on Wednesday as MPs confided in each other about their suspicions.

Wragg had already announced his intention to stand down as an MP at the election. If there are complaints to whips, he could face being forced to sit as an independent. Parliament is in recess, meaning Wragg will not return to Westminster for nearly two weeks.

Sir Lindsay Hoyle, Speaker of the House of Commons, (L), Picture: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

Sir Lindsay Hoyle, the Commons Speaker, has written to all MPs and staff to tell them the parliamentary security department is investigating. Anyone with knowledge of the messages is urged to come forward. Security guidance for phones and wider cybersecurity advice was also circulated.

A parliamentary spokesman said: “Parliament takes security extremely seriously ... We provide members and staff with tailored advice, making them aware of security risks and how to manage their digital safety.”