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The Tory MP on the centre of the Westminster honeytrap spear-phishing scandal has voluntarily given up the Tory whip.
William Wragg’s determination got here a day after he resigned as a vice-chair of the 1922 Committee of Conservative backbenchers, in addition to chairman of the Commons public administration and constitutional affairs committee.
The 36-year-old final week admitted giving the telephone numbers of different MPs to an individual he met on the courting app Grindr.
Wragg mentioned he had been “weak” after changing into involved that the person had “compromising” materials on him.
An announcement from the Tory whips workplace tonight mentioned: “Following Will Wragg’s determination to step again from his roles on the general public accounts and 1922 committees, he has additionally notified the chief whip that he’s voluntarily relinquishing the Conservative whip.”
Senior Tories initially stood by Wragg after the scandal broke, with chancellor Jeremy Hunt praising him for making a “brave and fulsome apology”.
However a number of Tory MPs have since damaged ranks to inform of their anger at Wragg’s behaviour.
Andrea Jenkyns branded Wragg an “fool” for “compromising safety”, whereas Conor Burns mentioned he was “reckless, egocentric and inconsiderate”.
Pat McFadden, Labour’s nationwide marketing campaign co-ordinator, mentioned: “The actual fact it was left to William Wragg to resign is one other indictment of Rishi Sunak’s weak point.
“His MPs have been left but once more being despatched out to defend a place that has collapsed.
“Rishi Sunak places get together administration first each time – and he can’t even try this correctly. It’s no solution to run a rustic.
“Britain deserves so significantly better than this limitless Tory chaos.”
Wragg, who’s standing down on the subsequent election, advised The Occasions final week: “I received chatting to a man on an app and we exchanged photos. We have been meant to fulfill up for drinks, however then didn’t. Then he began asking for numbers of individuals. I used to be anxious as a result of he had stuff on me. He gave me a WhatsApp quantity, which doesn’t work now.
“I’ve harm folks by being weak. I used to be scared. I’m mortified. I’m so sorry that my weak point has brought on different folks harm.”
These focused by the phishing assault have been despatched unsolicited messages on WhatsApp from senders figuring out themselves as “Charlie” or “Abi”.
Police and parliamentary authorities have additionally launched investigations into the scandal.
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