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Honeytrap - malevolent forces at work?

(181 Posts)
Casdon Fri 05-Apr-24 13:28:51

www.reuters.com/world/uk/uk-lawmaker-admits-passing-colleagues-numbers-stranger-met-dating-app-2024-04-05/
This is very worrying. Yes, William Wragg was an idiot, and he did right to come forward, but he’s not alone - it could be a sign of infiltration of politicians’ private lives through blackmail orchestrated by a malevolent foreign source to undermine Westminster. I really hope it proves to be a UK based chancer.

foxie48 Sat 06-Apr-24 12:00:02

I'm still wondering what Johnson was doing at a party in Italy with an ex KGB boss and without his protection officers etc. It was when he was foreign secretary.

www.theguardian.com/politics/2023/jun/26/italy-was-monitoring-lebedev-villa-at-time-of-boris-johnson-visit-documentary-claims

Germanshepherdsmum Sat 06-Apr-24 11:58:18

Yes, Cynthia Payne and the luncheon vouchers - that produced some red faces.

Glorianny Sat 06-Apr-24 11:02:48

Plus ca change etc. MPs never seem to. Anyone remember the Madame- Cynthia something?? who had an extensive list of highly placed clients? Then there's Profumo. The only difference now it seems to involve more gay sex.
I'm just surprised at what an idiot the man is. At least the ones using prostitutes had some protection (paid for of course). Just thought was it Payne? Once something is on the internet somebody can hack it. Maybe there's a gang of adolescent boys somewhere amazed at their own success, giggling, but a bit uncertain what to do now.

mae13 Sat 06-Apr-24 10:42:18

I wonder if any of The Garrick Club membership are drawn into this debacle? MP's, members of the judiciary, House of Lords - men in positions of political influence?

foxie48 Sat 06-Apr-24 09:46:42

I'm afraid integrity is in short supply in our current politicians. Too many people see politics as a way of lining their own pocket rather than helping to make the country a better place for all our citizens.

eazybee Sat 06-Apr-24 09:39:54

This appears to be a sordid tale of blackmail, initiated by the stupidity of an openly gay MP searching for a relationship via Grindr, who willingly exchanged intimate photos with an unknown contact which were then used to gain access access to other MPs. Not a victim.
Wragg was not set up; he was responsible for his own actions and if he had a shred of integrity he would have resigned some months ago, having already declared his intention of standing down in November 2022.
Likewise, if Sunak had a shred of integrity he would have sacked him some months ago when investigations were started. But he was a useful yes-man.

M0nica Sat 06-Apr-24 09:20:44

Considering that women MPs are far fewer and because of the difficulty of being chosen, probably on average of a higher calibre than their male colleagues. never the less both Diane Abbott, Teresa Ferrier and * Christine Rees* have been suspended during this Parliament. Teresa Ferrier's case was particulalry egregious because despite admitting an offence under the COVID regulations - two long train journeys when she had reason to beleive or knew she had COVID, she absolutely refused to resign until forced to by her constituents.

Women are lessprone to sexual offences but bullying, putting people's lives at risk, and just generally bein an unguided missile seem to be well within their capabilities.

Katie59 Sat 06-Apr-24 09:08:24

If you are gay and in public service or a celebrity it is essential you are honest and open and have stable relationships.

It’s not acceptable to associate with rent boys (prostitutes) or have multiple partners, if that is your lifestyle, stay out of the public eye. Sooner or later you will be blackmailed to get financial or political advantage.

petra Sat 06-Apr-24 09:06:53

There are gay sites and then there is Grindr. It’s known as the bargain basement of gay sites. If you want the dark side of gay sites, that’s where you go.

Vintagewhine Sat 06-Apr-24 08:56:06

If he was prepared to put friends and colleagues at risk to save his own skin what else was he prepared to do? He's got access to all sorts of information as well as people. This didn't happen last week I understand it happened last year but it's taken until now for him to own up. We do seem to have pretty appalling MPs ATM.

Elegran Sat 06-Apr-24 08:46:22

Sorrry, wrong thread. I'll ask GNHQ to move it.

Elegran Sat 06-Apr-24 08:45:39

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

HousePlantQueen Fri 05-Apr-24 22:20:21

It certainly is getting more and more curious as it unfolds.

mae13 Fri 05-Apr-24 22:02:18

Wragg has thrown several colleagues under a bus alright - and if they too have "something to hide" then doubtless they also will be targets for blackmail. How far across Whitehall can this potentially go?

If a hostile government is behind this then the Official Secrets Act will count for nothing and it could blow up into another John Profumo scandal. Our current crop of politicos are self-serving and don't appear to have any use for the principles of integrity and honour.

Ha!

Galaxy Fri 05-Apr-24 21:44:37

Women are assaulted every day through meeting men in pubs. They are frequently assaulted in pubs.

Casdon Fri 05-Apr-24 21:38:36

Sorry the apostrophe in Evans was an autocorrect, not my bad grammar.

Casdon Fri 05-Apr-24 21:37:43

This isn’t just gay MPs, and isn’t just Grindr though, if you read the account of what happened to Luke Evan’s. He was sent images of a woman, via WhatsApp.

welbeck Fri 05-Apr-24 21:35:12

several people, men, have been killed or seriously assaulted through connecting via grindr.

growstuff Fri 05-Apr-24 21:32:19

It's not just MPs who seem to be receiving these emails/texts.

I don't usually check my junk folder, but I looked at it today and I have an email which includes the following:

"You truly enjoy checking out porn websites and watching dirty videos, while having a lot of kinky fun.

I RECORDED YOU (through your camera) SATISFYING YOURSELF!"

Hmmm! Not me! However, if I had been looking at porn or masturbating online (which isn't a crime as far as I know) and especially if I were a public figure, I guess I would be worried.

Vintagewhine Fri 05-Apr-24 21:11:25

What sort of people do we have as MP's? Are they completely devoid of common sense? I've little sympathy for anyone who is in a position of power who puts others in danger to save their own skin. Wragg only came clean because he knew he'd be found out. The only reason colleagues are sticking with him is they don't want another bye election. Does anyone care he's gay? I certainly don't but I do care that he's so naive to open himself to blackmail.

petra Fri 05-Apr-24 20:25:53

Galaxy

Are people on X and Facebook? (I am on both) would you like me to describe the issues around safeguarding they have both experienced. Facebook was originally set up to rate the sexual attractiveness of college students. Mumsnet had a considerable data breach some time ago. Yes he should have gone to the police but I think there are wider issues than this.

And don’t download the Temu app. That one is bad for gathering data.

petra Fri 05-Apr-24 20:22:11

Casdon

The Leicestershire MP who reported to the police has now explained what happened to him. Looks like he acted absolutely correctly, hopefully the images he took will help the police identify where it’s coming from.
news.sky.com/story/tory-mp-luke-evans-says-he-was-victim-of-cyber-flashing-and-malicious-communications-13108627

If photos were sent to him I’m sure the sender would use a photo location editor.

Galaxy Fri 05-Apr-24 20:14:07

Are people on X and Facebook? (I am on both) would you like me to describe the issues around safeguarding they have both experienced. Facebook was originally set up to rate the sexual attractiveness of college students. Mumsnet had a considerable data breach some time ago. Yes he should have gone to the police but I think there are wider issues than this.

Casdon Fri 05-Apr-24 19:43:23

The Leicestershire MP who reported to the police has now explained what happened to him. Looks like he acted absolutely correctly, hopefully the images he took will help the police identify where it’s coming from.
news.sky.com/story/tory-mp-luke-evans-says-he-was-victim-of-cyber-flashing-and-malicious-communications-13108627

Anniebach Fri 05-Apr-24 19:35:13

Not integrity but compassion