William Wragg: Jeremy Hunt praises MP's apology over dating app incident

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William Wragg has held the position of Member of Parliament for Hazel Grove in Greater Manchester since 2015.

A journalist who covers news regarding politics for the British Broadcasting Corporation, known as BBC.

The leader of the government has commended a member of the Conservative Party who expressed remorse for disclosing private phone numbers of fellow MPs to a user of a dating application.

According to Jeremy Hunt, William Wragg exhibited bravery by apologizing for the pain he had inflicted on individuals, as reported in the Times.

According to the newspaper, Mr. Wragg expressed fear due to the compromising information the person had on him.

According to recent accounts, a minimum of 12 male individuals within politics have received uninvited messages, posing a potential risk to their safety.

According to the reports, some gentlemen who are affiliated with the government, including a minister, advisors, and journalists who cover political affairs in Westminster, have been identified.

A few individuals received pictures where the people in them were not wearing any clothes, and according to reports, two Members of Parliament answered back by sending photos of themselves.

Mr. Wragg, a member of the Conservative party, has not been officially removed from his position as a Member of Parliament. The department within the party responsible for enforcing rules and regulations, known as the whips office, has declined to give a statement, stating their reasoning is related to a continuing criminal investigation.

A representative of Leicestershire Police stated that they were looking into a complaint about harmful messages that were reported to the authorities in the previous month.

The Metropolitan Police stated that it was communicating with Leicestershire Police and also with the security squad at the Parliament. Furthermore, they mentioned, "We will evaluate any information that is brought to us."

A person who was once a Member of Parliament and happens to be homosexual has disclosed to the BBC that they were the victim of harassment from an individual named "Charlie". This person falsely asserted that they had previously served under Mr. Wragg.

He further stated that the final statement in the message was "Westminster is longing for your presence..." which is a typical approach of friends to console someone.

I began to feel uncomfortable to be honest. It was shameful to think that I was conversing with someone who recognized me, and yet I was making every effort not to appear impolite.

The following text read: "I have recently ended my relationship and now I am spending time with the gay community in Westminster."

The previous Member of Parliament (MP) clarified that he was in a romantic partnership, however, additional teasing messages were sent. When "Charlie" shared a graphic picture, the previous MP ceased all communication with him.

The BBC News team has come across identical communications sent to a reporter covering politics, which also originated from the aforementioned phone number.

The BBC has made an effort to reach out to Mr. Wragg, who will resign from his position as a Member of Parliament during the forthcoming general election, to obtain his comments.

Mr. Hunt expressed to journalists that the reports were a matter of serious concern. However, Mr. Wragg has displayed bravery by issuing a sincere and detailed apology.

He stated that the reports ought to serve as a "reminder" to both MP's and the public to exercise caution with regards to their cyber-security.

"He mentioned that this is a challenge we must all confront on a regular basis," he included.

The occurrence has caused worries regarding spearfishing attacks also known as phishing, whereby emails or messages are employed in getting hold of an individual's confidential data.

The sender of the unwanted messages is not known with certainty. A few Members of Parliament have raised doubts that a nation outside of their own, such as China or Russia, may have a hand in this.

Sir Lindsay Hoyle, the Speaker of the House, sent a message to Members of Parliament advising them against making assumptions and ensuring them that he will supply them with any new information.

In free English: A man named Mr. Wragg, who holds the position of vice chair in the 1922 committee of Tory MPs, said to the Times that he sent private pictures of himself to another man he met on the Grindr app, which is a dating platform specifically for gay users.

The 36-year-old MP for Hazel Grove in Greater Manchester since 2015 stated that they possessed incriminating information about them and persisted in bothering them.

They requested individuals from me and I only provided them with certain contacts rather than the complete list. I urged them to discontinue their requests. Unfortunately, they deceived and influenced me, resulting in harm to other individuals.

I had a conversation with a man through an application where we shared some photographs. Initially, we decided to meet up for some drinks, but it didn't happen. After that, he started to request contact information from others. I felt concerned as he had some sensitive information about me. He gave me a WhatsApp number, but unfortunately, it's no longer working.

My lack of strength has caused pain to those around me. I was afraid and it fills me with shame. I apologize deeply for any harm my vulnerability may have caused others.

The event has raised alarm bells for Rachel Reeves, the shadow chancellor of Labour. She finds it very worrying, and she believes that the authorities should be allowed to conduct a thorough investigation without any hindrance.

She chose not to express her opinion on whether Mr. Wragg - who is also the head of the Commons constitutional affairs committee - should step down, saying that it's a matter for the Conservative party to answer.

Sir Ed Davey, who leads the Liberal Democrats, declined to comment on whether or not Mr. Wragg should face suspension as it is a matter for the Conservative Party to decide.

He stated that he had no suspicion that any of his party's MPs had participated in the alleged phishing episodes.

The security of the House of Commons is a top priority and they make sure to give MPs and staff personalized guidance on how to recognize dangers on the internet.

They added that they urge individuals who have concerns and were affected to get in touch with the Parliamentary Security Department.