Lindsay Hoyle calls in security to 'analyse' WhatsApps sent as part of MPs sexting scandal
Commons speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle has called in Government security experts to "analyse and understand the nature" of WhatsApp messages at the heart of the honeytrap sext scandal.
So far around a dozen MPs, staff and journalists have been affected but sources told GB News that "more are coming forward" today, indicating that figure will grow.
The Tory MP involved - William Wragg - is expected to be contacted today to be asked for a list of numbers which he handed to the people sending the WhatsApps as the Commons authorities seek to get across the scale of the problem.
Senior Commons sources told GB News today that it presently does not look like a foreign government was involved in the WhatsApp messages.
The Tory MP involved - William Wragg - is expected to be contacted today to be asked for a list of numbers which he handed to the people sending the WhatsApps as the Commons authorities seek to get across the scale of the problem
PA
In a message last night to MPs and staff in the Commons last night, Hoyle said: "The Parliamentary Security Department continues to work closely with partners in Government to analyse and understand the nature of these messages and any related security risk - I should stress that it would be unwise to speculate on their origin at this stage."
Hoyle added: "At this stage, we are keen to encourage any colleagues who received such a message to come forward to our parliamentary security team and share the details and any concerns about their security."
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.”
Conservative MP William Wragg said on Thursday he was “manipulated” into giving personal phone numbers of colleagues to a man he met on a gay dating app, after he had sent intimate pictures of himself.
Wragg, the MP for Hazel Grove in Greater Manchester, did not comment today to GB News. However he told The Times that he was “scared” because the man had compromising information on him.
Treasury minister Gareth 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.”
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt said today that Wragg had offered a “courageous and fulsome apology”.
Wragg said he was sorry for his “weakness”, which has caused hurt for other people. 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 that my weakness has caused other people hurt.”