However, in an additional growth Tuesday night time, a spokesperson for the Conservative whips’ workplace mentioned: “Following Will Wragg’s resolution to step again from his roles on the Public Accounts and 1922 committees, he has additionally notified the Chief Whip that he’s voluntarily relinquishing the Conservative Whip.”
Wragg admitted final week he was focused by a scammer on the relationship app Grindr and had leaked the non-public cellphone numbers of a variety of MPs, who have been later additionally focused within the phishing scandal. “I used to be scared. I’m mortified. I’m so sorry that my weak spot has induced different folks damage,” he instructed the Occasions on the time.
Outcry
POLITICO first revealed final week that MPs, staffers, and journalists in Westminster had been focused with alluring WhatsApp messages from two unknown cellphone numbers that, in a number of instances, escalated to the sender sending specific photos.
Wragg’s admission that he had shared a few of his colleagues’ cellphone numbers with the honey trapper triggered a torrent of criticism from his fellow Tories, with former Secretary of State Nadine Dorries and Conservative MPs Andrea Jenkyns and Jacob Rees-Mogg all placing the boot in.
Others reacted with sympathy, together with Chancellor Jeremy Hunt, who praised Wragg’s resolution to return ahead and apologize. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s authorities had declined to take away the whip from Wragg.
So far, POLITICO has verified instantly that a minimum of 21 folks in U.Okay. politics have been despatched unsolicited WhatsApp messages by one or each of two cellphone numbers, which alternatively used the names “Charlie” or “Abi.” Amongst these focused are Labour and Tory MPs, together with a serving minister within the U.Okay. authorities.
A minimum of two police forces are investigating the scandal, in London and Leicestershire.
