Dame Andrea Jenkins has become the second Conservative MP to reveal she has fallen victim to an alleged Westminster trap. Photo: Leon Neil/Getty images
Downing Street is under growing pressure to take action against William Wragg after he admitted responding to messages on a gay dating app and sending the phone numbers of parliamentary colleagues out of fear revelations.
Dame Andrea Jenkins accused her Conservative colleague. of «inexcusable» behavior as she became the second Tory MP to say she was the victim of an alleged Westminster trap.
Police are investigating reports of a parliamentary sexting scam targeting more than a dozen Westminster figures. It was later confirmed that Mr Wragg would keep the whip, fearing he too had been a victim.
Although he issued an apology which was applauded by senior figures including Jeremy Hunt, who called it «courageous and rude», Downing Street came under increasing pressure on Sunday to take action as former cabinet minister Lord Goldsmith joined calls for Wragg to be punished .
Responding to a GB News report containing a string of messages allegedly sent to one of the targeted Westminster insiders, Dame Andrea wrote on social media: “I received the WhatsApp message too and reported it.” .
«It was worded in the same way, with reference to a 'conference'. Unlike some MPs, I am not comfortable with Wragg as the mother of a young child who has just recently been threatened. It is inexcusable for him to jeopardize the safety of fellow MPs. Action is required.» /p> William Wragg has been confirmed to retain the whip amid concerns he is also a victim
Speaking to The Telegraph, Dame Andrea said she received a report of suspected fraud earlier this year and reported it to her party whips.< /p>
“Why are they defending Wragg? It's weird,» she said. “For God’s sake, I told them that he compromised the deputies. I’m a mother, and he shouldn’t give out numbers to anyone.
“How brave is that? The bravest thing to do would be to ignore the blackmail. I really hope they can track down who is behind these messages — it's sickening.»
Lord Goldsmith, a Boris Johnson supporter who quit Rishi Sunak's government over its net zero policy last year, added that he was «perplexed». «the wall of protection offered by the Conservative Party» to Mr Wragg.
A colleague said Mr Wragg was «caught leaking sensitive material about fellow MPs to a potentially hostile state to avoid personal embarrassment, by sending graphic photos of yourself to a stranger.”
He added: «He no doubt suffers from embarrassment, but that doesn't make what he did remotely acceptable.»
«Glad I gave the signal»
On Friday, Dr Luke Evans, MP for Conservative Party Bosworth said he was suddenly sent a photo of a naked woman via WhatsApp. He received a second message 10 days later and turned it over to police.
“I put my name out there to say, well, I hope others will speak up,” Dr. Evans said in a Facebook video. “I'm just glad I blew the whistle, reported it to the authorities, and now the matter is being investigated.”
It is understood the name linked to the WhatsApp account behind the messages he received was Abi — the same name identified by other people who suspect they were also victims.
Mr Wragg is under pressure , demanding that he face an inquiry by the Parliamentary Standards Czar and resign as Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party's 1922 Committee and Chairman of the Government and Constitutional Affairs Committee.
< p>Mr Wragg admitted sending out colleagues' phone numbers after reports emerged last week that the minister, special advisers and a journalist had been ensnared.
Nigel Farage, honorary president, said Reform UK. «It was reprehensible to give private telephone numbers of public figures to people you know are bad actors.»
In an article for The Spectator, Eliot Wilson, a former House of Commons clerk, accused Mr Wragg of «reckless , irresponsible, stupid and ultimately selfish mistakes» that had «serious consequences» for other MPs.
Mr Wragg told The Times last week he was «terrified» when he revealed his colleagues' figures and that the man who approached him had “incriminating evidence” with him. “I hurt people with my weakness,” he said. «I was scared. I was sad. I'm very sorry that my weakness caused pain to other people.»
Mr Wragg has been contacted for comment.
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