Labour member arrested by cops probing Westminster ‘honeytrap’ sexting scandal after string of unsolicited WhatsApps
DETECTIVES investigating an MP honey trap plot have arrested a Labour party member on suspicion of harassment and offences under the Online Safety Act.
Police confirmed the man, who is in his mid-20s, was held in Islington this morning.
The Labour Party is understood to have suspended a party member following news of the arrest.
Flirtatious WhatsApp messages from mysterious figures calling themselves "Charlie" or "Abi" began targeting at least 12 men in political circles from September last year.
William Wragg, then an MP, resigned the Conservative whip after saying that he gave the phone numbers of fellow MPs to a man he met on a dating app because he was "scared".
Hazel Grove MP Mr Wragg said he was sorry for his "weakness" in responding, and resigned from his role leading the Commons Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee and as vice-chairman of the 1922 Committee, and chose to surrender the Conservative whip.
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Other victims included then-Conservative MP for Bosworth, Luke Evans.
Dr Luke Evans called for a full review of Parliament's system of investigating incidents reported by MPs.
The Met confirmed in April it was investigating reports of the unsolicited messages.
A spokesperson said today: “On Wednesday, 26 June, police executed a warrant at an address in Islington.
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"A man was arrested on suspicion of harassment and committing offences under the Online Safety Act. He was taken into custody where he remains.
"The arrest relates to an investigation being carried out by the Met’s Parliamentary Liaison and Investigation Team following reports of unsolicited messages sent to MPs and others.
"The investigation remains ongoing.”