A homosexual Tory MP has apologised to a number of colleagues after he gave out their personal phone numbers after being “manipulated” by a man he met on the dating app Grindr.
Mr. Wragg, who is standing down as Conservative MP for Hazel Grove in Greater Manchester at the general election, said he had been “scared.”
Grindr is a dating app targeted toward gay and bisexual men, and transgender people.
Mr. Wragg told The Times, “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’ve Hurt People by Being Weak’
“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,” he added.
Treasury Minister Gareth Davies said the so-called honeytrap incident was “extremely troubling,” and he urged any MP who thought they had been compromised or were facing blackmail to contact the police.
Mr. Davies told GB News, “It is extremely troubling and worrying to hear this kind of activity takes place.”
“Will Wragg has apologised for the action he took, but took in a set of circumstances that I think many could potentially sympathise with, and he felt compromised and acted in a way that he thought appropriate,” he added.
It is understood Mr. Wragg will not lose the party whip.
Mr. Davies said, “He is continuing as a Conservative MP and it’s right that there’s investigation into what happened.”
Dominik Wojtczak, head of the Cybersecurity Institute at the University of Liverpool, told Politico the incidents appeared to be a concerted “spear phishing attack.”
MPs Urged to Contact Police if Blackmailed
On Friday, Mr. Davies said, “blackmail is a very serious matter” and any MPs who thought they had become a victim should contact the police.He said, “They should not come to anybody else other than the police if they feel that they’re a victim of blackmail.”
Ellie Reeves, Labour’s deputy national campaign co-ordinator, said, “It is very concerning in terms of MPs’ safety and their numbers being given out.”
Leicestershire Police has confirmed it is investigating a report of malicious communications after unsolicited messages were sent to an MP on March 19.
On Friday afternoon, the Metropolitan Police said it was in contact with Leicestershire Police and Parliamentary Security “following reporting of unsolicited messages to members of Parliament.”
“We will assess any reports made to us accordingly,” the Met added.
A Parliamentary spokesman said: “Parliament takes security extremely seriously and works closely with 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. We are encouraging anyone affected who has concerns to contact the Parliamentary Security Department,” he added.
Mr. Wragg’s constituency of Hazel Grove is a collection of towns and suburbs on the southern outskirts of Manchester.
The Epoch Times has reached out to Mr. Wragg but has not yet received a response.
