Watch: Tory MP reveals he was targeted in ‘Westminster honeytrap’
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A Conservative MP has revealed he was targeted in the suspected Westminster honeytrap.
Dr Luke Evans, the Tory MP for Bosworth, said in a Facebook video that he had been sent a photo of a naked woman out of the blue over WhatsApp.
Dr Evans said he was then sent a second message 10 days later. He passed the communications onto the police who are now investigating.
Dr Evans said: “Here’s a video I didn’t expect to make on a Friday evening, but a month ago I was a victim of cyberflashing and malicious communications, and blew the whistle by reporting it to the police and the parliamentary authorities as soon as this happened.
“The first set of messages I got was on a day I was with my wife and I got a one-time open photo on WhatsApp of an explicit image of a naked lady. As soon as I got these the next day I reported it to the police, the authorities and the chief whip.
“Ten days later, I got another set of messages. This time, however, I was sat with my team in the constituency office, so we were able to record the conversation and catch photos and videos of the messages coming through, including another explicit female image.
“Why am I talking about this now? Well, I actually wanted it to be private because there’s an ongoing police investigation, it’s been ongoing for a month but you’ve probably seen in the national media, I’ve been hounded by journalists asking me about it, it’s not too difficult to work out – there are only a few Leicestershire MPs.
“So I have put my name up to say well, I hope others come forward. I’m just pleased I blew the whistle, reported it to the authorities and it’s now being looked into.”
The remarks come after William Wragg, the Tory MP for Hazel Grove, admitted to responding to messages on a gay dating app and sending on numbers of MP colleagues after fearing exposure.
More than a dozen Westminster figures, including at least three MPs, as well as political journalists and advisers, are thought to have been targeted in an apparent honeytrap push.
It is understood the name linked to the WhatsApp account was Abi, which is the same name identified by other Westminster figures who suspect they were targeted in the plot.
Dr Evans said he had received messages from two different telephone numbers. He said in a statement posted on Facebook alongside the photo that he “tried to verify who was messaging me”.
Dr Evans was first elected to Parliament at the 2019 general election. He entered politics after a career as a GP, which saw him work in hospitals across the Midlands.
He went public after police confirmed that they were investigating messages passed on to them by an unnamed Leicestershire MP.
There are just eight MPs who represent constituencies in Leicester.
A spokesman said: “Leicestershire Police is investigating a report of malicious communications after a number of unsolicited messages were sent to a Leicestershire MP last month. They were reported to police on Tuesday March 19. Enquiries are currently ongoing.”
At least 12 men in Parliament approached
It came as messages sent to one of the people targeted in the honeytrap were revealed.
Messages published by GB News were sent by an individual called “Charlie” who is believed to have sent flirtatious texts, and in several cases explicit photos, to victims.
The string of WhatsApp messages are said to be from one of the figures who have approached at least 12 men working in and around Parliament, including MPs.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed on Friday that it is looking at the scandal and are in contact with parliamentary security and Leicestershire Police.
Two screenshots of the messages published by GB News appeared to show persistent attempts by “Charlie” to message their target, who is unknown, which garnered no response.
“Charlie” purported to have started the conversation by pretending to have met the recipient, saying: “Was sad not to bump into you over conference season! It’s been too long” and “How are you?”
Nine hours later, without having received a response, “Charlie” followed up with: “Do I need to do something better to grab your attention.”
A separate screenshot showed “Charlie” writing on Nov 11. “Oh hey! How’re you?”, they said, followed up in the early hours of the next morning with “Sorry, accident.”
But three days later, and then four days after that, “Charlie” messaged again. Some victims were contacted by someone operating with the alias “Abi” in a similar manner.
MPs have been encouraged to register their personal online accounts and mobile numbers with the National Cyber Security Centre, an arm of GCHQ, so that they can be warned if they have been affected by a cyber attack.
In a letter sent out to all MPs and their staff, Sir Lindsay Hoyle said that the Parliamentary security department “continues to work closely with partners in Government to analyse and understand the nature of these messages and any related security risk”.
He warned MPs and staff that it would be “unwise” to “speculate on their origin at this stage”.
Farage: Tories have lost plot
Mr Wragg, 36, told The Times on Thursday evening that he was “mortified” following his actions and apologised for his “weakness [that] has caused other people hurt”.
Conservative MPs rallied round Mr Wragg in the 24 hours after the revelations of his involvement.
Jeremy Hunt, the Chancellor, said the vice-chairman of the 1922 committee had provided a “courageous and fulsome apology”.
He told broadcasters on Friday morning: “The lesson here for all MPs is that they need to be very careful about cybersecurity, and indeed it is the lesson for members of the public as well, because this is something that we are all having to face in our daily lives.”
But Nigel Farage, honorary president of Reform UK, said that Mr Wragg was “stupid and cowardly”.
He wrote on X, formerly Twitter: “Absolute proof that the Tories have lost the plot, now the Chancellor calls William Wragg ‘courageous’.
“He was stupid and cowardly in giving in to a blackmailer. To hand out the phone numbers of public figures is disgraceful.”
Gareth Davies, a Treasury minister, described the events as “extremely troubling” but also came to Mr Wragg’s defence.
He told Times Radio on Friday morning: “It is obviously extremely troubling and very serious. Will has recognised the seriousness and apologised.
“People do make mistakes, of course they do. But it is right that he has apologised, of course.”
Mr Wragg announced in November 2022 that he would not be standing at the next general election, but questions have arisen as to whether he should resign in the aftermath of the revelations. He, however, retains the Tory whip.
