William Wragg, who shared other politicians’ personal numbers as part of a honeytrap sexting scam, has “voluntarily” given up the Conservative whip – meaning he will now sit as an independent MP in the Commons.
Mr Wragg, the MP for Hazel Grove, Greater Manchester, resigned on Monday as vice-chairman of the 1922 committee of Tory backbenchers and also stepped down from his role heading the Commons’ public administration and constitutional affairs committee.
A spokesperson for the Tory whips said on Tuesday: “Following Will Wragg’s decision to step back from his roles on the Public Accounts and 1922 committees, he has also notified the chief whip that he is voluntarily relinquishing the Conservative whip.”
The move means Mr Wragg is no longer a member of the Conservative parliamentary party and will sit as an independent MP, rather than a Tory MP, in the chamber.
His decision to voluntarily give up the party whip came after he apologised last week after admitting to The Times that he had given his colleagues’ phone numbers to someone he met on a dating app.
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Scotland Yard has said it is investigating reports of the so-called “honeytrap” scam after it was suggested at least 12 men in political circles received unsolicited messages, raising security concerns.
Mr Wragg, who has already announced he is standing down at the next election, told the newspaper: “They had compromising things on me. They wouldn’t leave me alone.
“They would ask for people. I gave them some numbers, not all of them. I told him to stop. He’s manipulated me and now I’ve hurt other people.
“I got chatting to a guy on an app and we exchanged pictures. We were meant to meet up for drinks, but then didn’t.
“Then he started asking for numbers of people. I was worried because he had stuff on me. He gave me a WhatsApp number, which doesn’t work now. I’ve hurt people by being weak.
“I was…
