Farage calls honeytrap scam MP’s actions ‘abominable’

NIGEL FARAGE has branded William Wragg’s actions as “abominable” and has said there ‘is a case’ for the MPs’ standards tsar to probe his conduct.

It comes as a former senior parliamentary official said Mr Wragg, who is vice-chairman of the influential 1922 Committee, must “face consequences” by “stepping away” from the position.

Last week, the 36-year-old admitted handing over personal phone numbers of colleagues to a man he met on Grindr, a gay dating app. The colleagues whose numbers were handed over – which included several MPs, staff and a journalist – were then sent messages by senders identifying themselves as “Charlie” or “Abi”, The Times reported.

Police are now investigating reports of a parliamentary honeytrap sexting scam, which the parliamentary security department is also probing.

It was later confirmed that Mr Wragg would retain the whip, amid concerns that he is also a victim, with Jeremy Hunt, the Chancellor, describing his apology as “courageous and fulsome”.

But yesterday Mr Farage called the Tory MP’s actions “reprehensible”.

The honorary president of Reform UK told The Telegraph: “Honestly, I think it is reprehensible to give out private phone numbers of public figures to people who you know are bad actors.

“I think that is absolutely appalling and frankly a security risk as well and all I’m hearing from Westminster is sympathy and what a courageous man William Wragg is – what he has done is abominable, no one dares call it out.”

When asked whether he believed Daniel Greenberg, the parliamentary commissioner for standards, should investigate, Mr Farage said: “I think there is a case [for that].”

Writing in The Spectator, Eliot Wilson, a clerk in the House of Commons between 2005 and 2016, also said that Mr Wragg should face consequences.

Mr Wilson wrote: “Wragg made reckless, irresponsible, foolish and ultimately selfish mistakes which have had serious consequences.”