‘Labor Party member’ arrested in connection with police investigation into Westminster honey trap plot

A man believed to be a member of the Labor Party has been arrested as part of a police investigation into a sexting scam targeting political figures.

The suspect, in his 20s, was detained in Islington, north London, on Wednesday on suspicion of harassment and offenses under the Internet Safety Act.

A police investigation began in April after it was suggested that at least 12 men with links to Westminster had received unwanted messages in connection with the honey trap plot.

An unknown fraudster is said to have used the aliases “Charlie” and “Abi” to send flirtatious messages in an attempt to persuade MPs and other political figures to send vulgar photos.

Then-senior Conservative MP William Wragg resigned as party caucus chairman after admitting giving politicians’ phone numbers to a suspected fraudster.

Full review

Fellow Tory Dr Luke Evans has called for a full review of the parliamentary system for investigating incidents reported by MPs after he was also targeted.

Wragg admitted that he gave his friends’ phone numbers to someone using a dating app out of fear that intimate photos of him would be leaked.

Hazel Grove MP said he was sorry for his “weakness” in responding and resigned as chairman of the House of Commons Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee and vice-chairman of the 1922 Committee, and decided to hand over the Conservative whip.