MP targeted in honeytrap plot raises concerns over Westminster security
Dr Luke Evans has called for a full review of Parliament security’s system of investigating incidents reported by MPs.
A Conservative MP who was targeted in a Westminster “honeytrap” plot has raised “significant concerns” about how it was handled by parliamentary security.
Dr Luke Evans called for a full review of Parliament’s system of investigating incidents reported by MPs.
This comes as senior Tory MP William Wragg resigned the Conservative whip earlier this month after he admitted giving politicians’ phone numbers to a suspected scammer.
Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt said Parliament’s head of security takes these matters “very seriously”.
“However, I do have significant concerns about how this was handled by the parliamentary security.
“So will the Leader of the House ask the Speaker to conduct a full review of the system for reporting and investigating incidents reported by MPs so lessons can be learned so that no MP has to go through the same experiences I’ve had.”
“I know that the head of security here takes these matters very seriously and I’m sure that this will be followed up.”
Scotland Yard has said it is investigating reports of the parliamentary sexting scam, after it was suggested that at least 12 men in political circles received unsolicited messages, raising security concerns.
Mr Wragg has admitted he gave colleagues’ phone numbers to someone on a dating app amid fears that intimate images of himself would be leaked.
Mr Wragg resigned from his roles leading the Commons Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee and as vice-chairman of the 1922 Committee, and chose to surrender the Conservative whip in the wake of the scandal.
The unknown scammer is said to have used the aliases “Charlie” and “Abi” while sending flirtatious messages to coax MPs into sending explicit pictures.
