Lord Geidt: PM's former ethics advisor spoke to a parliamentary committee on Tuesday
BBC NewsNov 23, 2022
UK: Tory MP Admits Giving Colleagues' Numbers to Blackmailers
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The Facts
William Wragg, a senior Conservative member of parliament (MP), has admitted to a UK newspaper that he shared the contact details of his colleagues to someone he met online, accepting his role in a suspected "honeytrap" scandal.
Wragg told The Times that he leaked the phone numbers of fellow MPs to a Grindr dating app user he previously shared intimate photos with, adding he feared the man had "compromising things" on him.
The Spin
Narrative A
Wragg must either resign or be removed from office immediately for exposing British officials to a coordinated blackmailing operation. By allowing Wragg to keep his position, the Tories are showing callous disregard for the security and sanctity of the institution. Wragg may not have instigated the attack, but he is certainly not a courageous figure.
Narrative B
This situation is unfortunate, but Wragg was also a victim. MPs are allowed personal lives, and this is a cautionary tale of modern dating and communication. Instead of hiding information, Wragg admitted to his mistakes and courageously apologized. This episode should serve as a wake-up call for all governmental official to remain on alert for potential schemes.
