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William Wragg resigns party whip over Westminster honeytrap William Wragg resigns party whip over Westminster honeytrap
(32 minutes later)
William Wragg, the MP who admitted sharing MPs' personal phone numbers with someone on a dating app, has "voluntarily" given up the Conservative whip.William Wragg, the MP who admitted sharing MPs' personal phone numbers with someone on a dating app, has "voluntarily" given up the Conservative whip.
He will now sit as an independent MP in the House of Commons.He will now sit as an independent MP in the House of Commons.
Mr Wragg has also given up his roles on the 1922 backbench committee and the Public Administration Committee.Mr Wragg has also given up his roles on the 1922 backbench committee and the Public Administration Committee.
Last week, he told The Times he had been targeted by a suspected Westminster honeytrap plot.Last week, he told The Times he had been targeted by a suspected Westminster honeytrap plot.
He said he had been chatting with someone on an app who subsequently asked him for the numbers of others. The Hazel Grove MP said he had been chatting with someone on an app who subsequently asked him for the numbers of others.
"They had compromising things on me. They wouldn't leave me alone.... I gave them some numbers, not all of them.""They had compromising things on me. They wouldn't leave me alone.... I gave them some numbers, not all of them."
Wragg quits Commons jobs over Westminster honeytrapWragg quits Commons jobs over Westminster honeytrap
How I was targeted in the Westminster honeytrapHow I was targeted in the Westminster honeytrap
Hunt praises MP's apology over dating app incidentHunt praises MP's apology over dating app incident
He told the newspaper: "I'm so sorry my weakness has caused other people hurt."He told the newspaper: "I'm so sorry my weakness has caused other people hurt."
Up to 20 people in political circles are reported to have received unsolicited messages, which have included explicit photos.Up to 20 people in political circles are reported to have received unsolicited messages, which have included explicit photos.
The Metropolitan Police has confirmed it is investigating reports of the messages being sent to MPs.The Metropolitan Police has confirmed it is investigating reports of the messages being sent to MPs.
Leicestershire Police has said the force is "investigating a report of malicious communications".Leicestershire Police has said the force is "investigating a report of malicious communications".
Last week, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt praised Mr Wragg for his apology, adding that he had been "courageous". Since last week, when the website Politico first reported that people in Westminster had been receiving suspicious messages from senders named Charlie and Abi, some politicians and political journalists have been coming forward with their own experiences.
However, other Conservative MPs have criticised their colleague for his actions.
Andrea Jenkyns MP said he was an "idiot for compromising security" and on GB News, Jacob Rees-Mogg questioned whether he should keep his roles on committees in Parliament.
Some MPs had also privately expressed surprise that Mr Wragg has not lost the Conservative whip and at least one Tory MP had contacted the whips' office to say he should be suspended from the parliamentary party.
On Tuesday evening, a spokesperson for the Conservative whips - who are in charge of party discipline - said: "Following Will Wragg's decision to step back from his roles on the Public Administration and 1922 committees, he has also notified the chief whip that he is voluntarily relinquishing the Conservative Whip."
Conservative chair Richard Holden later told Sky News it was "right" for Mr Wragg to resign the Conservative whip.
He said the 36-year-old MP had made a "fulsome apology", adding: "It's quite clear his career in public life is at an end."
Pat McFadden MP, Labour's national campaign co-ordinator said: "The fact it was left to William Wragg to resign is another indictment of Rishi Sunak's weakness."
Mr Wragg, who represents the Greater Manchester constituency of Hazel Grove, had already announced in 2022 that he would not be standing to be an MP again at the next general election, expected this year.
Since last week, when the website Politico first reported that men in Westminster had been receiving suspicious messages from senders named Charlie and Abi, some politicians and political journalists have been coming forward with their own experiences.
Bosworth MP Luke Evans said he had been a "victim of cyber-flashing" after being sent an image of a naked woman.Bosworth MP Luke Evans said he had been a "victim of cyber-flashing" after being sent an image of a naked woman.
Another former MP told the BBC he had received flirtatious messages and an explicit picture from someone who claimed to remember them from their time working in Parliament.Another former MP told the BBC he had received flirtatious messages and an explicit picture from someone who claimed to remember them from their time working in Parliament.
On Tuesday evening, a spokesperson for the Conservative whips - who are in charge of party discipline - said: "Following Will Wragg's decision to step back from his roles on the Public Administration and 1922 committees, he has also notified the chief whip that he is voluntarily relinquishing the Conservative Whip."
The 36-year-old's departure from the Conservative parliamentary party is quite the downfall for a man who until Monday night was the vice-chair of the 1922 committee, which brings together all backbench MPs in the party.
The party whips have been clear that his decision to resign from his role was voluntary, although the party chair Richard Holden has already said it is "the right thing to have done".
Mr Holden told Sky News: "It's quite clear his career in public life is at an end."
While many MPs have expressed sympathy for their colleague - Chancellor Jeremy Hunt praised his "courageous" apology - some MPs had privately expressed surprise that Mr Wragg has not lost the Conservative whip and at least one Tory MP had contacted the whips' office to say he should be suspended from the parliamentary party.
There was also a danger of his continued presence in the parliamentary party becoming a factional issue.
Mr Wragg upset some of those close to Boris Johnson by being one of the first to call for him to go in the aftermath of the partygate revelations.
He had also publicly demanded that Liz Truss step down as prime minister. One of her allies, Jacob Rees-Mogg, this week questioned the sympathy he has received, saying Mr Wragg had "always been willing to throw stones when people have fallen below his high standards."
Andrea Jenkyns, a supporter of Mr Johnson, said Mr Wragg had been "an idiot for compromising security".
Mr Wragg's decision to resign the whip may take some heat off the prime minister, although critics may continue to question why Rishi Sunak did not take stronger action himself - Labour's Pat McFadden said it was "another indictment of Rishi Sunak's weakness".
For now, Mr Wragg will sit as an independent. His friends don't think he has any intention of resigning as an MP, after announcing many months ago his plan to leave politics at the next election.
It is a career as an MP that was always going to draw to a close this year, but has not ended in the way he would have hoped.
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