Wragg quits 1922 committee amid honeytrap scandal

THE TORY MP at the centre of the Westminster honeytrap scandal resigned from his position as vice-chairman of the 1922 committee of Tory backbenchers last night.

William Wragg last week admitted to responding to messages on a gay dating app and sending on phone numbers of colleagues. Several MPS, members of their staff and political journalists were later sent flirtatious texts, and in several cases explicit photos.

The Telegraph understands Mr Wragg has now stepped aside from the executive of the influential 1922 committee.

It came as Bloomberg reported Mr Wragg had also stood down as chairman of the public administration and constitutional affairs committee, another highly influential Commons group.

The Metropolitan Police has now launched an investigation into the honeytrap scandal as it emerged around 20 Westminster figures, including three MPS, had been targeted.

The force said its Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Command was “carrying out an investigation following reports that a number of unsolicited messages were sent to MPS over recent months”.

Yesterday, Henry Zeffman, the chief political correspondent at the BBC, became the latest figure to go public as a target of the suspected honeytrapper.

Zeffman said he received Whatsapp messages from two separate numbers.

A spokesman for the Liberal Democrats said: “It is deeply disturbing that individuals are being targeted in this way. We would urge anyone who suspects malicious online behaviour to report it to the relevant authorities including the police.”

Dr Luke Evans, the Tory MP for Bosworth, revealed in a Facebook video on Friday that he had been targeted by the suspected Westminster honeytrap – and was the Leicestershire MP who had reported it to the police.

On Sunday, Dame Andrea Jenkyns came forward as another target.