William Wragg#Grindr honeytrap scandal

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = William Wragg

| honorific-suffix =

| image = Official portrait of William Wragg, 2022 (cropped).jpg

| caption = Official portrait, 2022

| office = Chairman of the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Select Committee

| term_start = 29 January 2020

| term_end = 8 April 2024

| predecessor = Sir Bernard Jenkin

| successor = Dame Jackie Doyle-Price

| office1 = Member of Parliament
for Hazel Grove

| term_start1 = 7 May 2015

| term_end1 = 30 May 2024

| predecessor1 = Andrew Stunell

| successor1 = Lisa Smart

| majority1 =

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1987|12|11|df=y}}

| residence = Hazel Grove, Greater Manchester, England
London, England

| birth_place =

| death_date =

| death_place =

| party = {{ubl||Independent (since April 2024)|Conservative (until April 2024)}}

| alma_mater = University of Manchester

| website = {{Official URL}}

| education = Poynton High School

}}

William Peter Wragg (born 11 December 1987), is a British politician who served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Hazel Grove in Greater Manchester from 2015 to 2024.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/E14000738|title=Hazel Grove Parliamentary Constituency Results|publisher=BBC News}} As a member of the Conservative Party, he previously served as a vice-chairman of its 1922 Committee.{{cite news|url= https://news.sky.com/story/william-wragg-tory-mp-at-centre-of-sexting-scam-scandal-stands-down-from-two-top-commons-posts-13111184|title= William Wragg: Tory MP at centre of 'sexting scam' scandal stands down from two top Commons posts |publisher=Sky News}} From April 2024 until parliament was dissolved in May 2024, he sat as an independent.

Early life and education

William Wragg was born on 11 December 1987.{{cite web |title=William Peter Wragg |url=https://www.ukwhoswho.com/display/10.1093/ww/9780199540884.001.0001/ww-9780199540884-e-284007 |website=WHO'S WHO 2024 |access-date=30 April 2024}}{{cite book |last1=Carr |first1=Tim |title=The Politicos Guide to the New House of Commons 2015: Profiles of the New MPs and Analysis of the 2015 General Election Results |date=18 May 2015 |publisher=Biteback Publishing |pages=17 |isbn=978-1-84954-924-0 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BVWqCQAAQBAJ&dq=william+wragg+11+december+1987&pg=RA1-PA17 |access-date=30 April 2024}} He attended Poynton High School before gaining a first-class degree in history from the University of Manchester.{{Cite news |date=2024-04-09 |title=William Wragg: Honeytrap Tory MP right to apologise, says Rishi Sunak |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-68773702 |access-date=2024-04-11 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.poyntonhigh.org.uk/aboutus/alumni|title=Alumni|website=Poynton High School & Performing Arts College}}

Wragg became a school governor in 2008 and went on to volunteer as a student mentor.{{cite web|url=https://www.williamwragg.org.uk/about-william-wragg|publisher=William Wragg|access-date=29 April 2018|title=About William}} He unsuccessfully stood as the Conservative candidate in the Hazel Grove ward of Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council in 2010,{{cite web|url=http://democracy.stockport.gov.uk/mgElectionAreaResults.aspx?XXR=0&ID=121&RPID=13736041|title=Election Results|publisher=Stockport Borough Council|date= 6 May 2010|access-date=29 April 2018}} but was elected in the same ward in 2011.{{cite news |url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/whos-hazel-grove-william-wragg-9508634 |title='Who's Hazel Grove'? William Wragg delivers geography lesson during maiden speech to parliament |first=Todd |last=Fitzgerald |work=Manchester Evening News |date=23 June 2015}} He completed a two-year Teach First training programme as a primary school teacher before taking up a job as a caseworker for a Conservative MP in 2014.{{cite web |title=William Wragg's CV |url=http://cv.democracyclub.org.uk/show_cv/4197 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220527031843/http://cv.democracyclub.org.uk/show_cv/4197 |archive-date=27 May 2022 |access-date=27 May 2015 |website=Democracy Club}}

Parliamentary career

At the 2015 general election Wragg was elected as MP for Hazel Grove, winning with 41.4% of the vote and a majority of 6,552.{{cite web |title=Election Data 2015 |url=http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2015.txt |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017112223/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2015.txt |archive-date=17 October 2015 |access-date=17 October 2015 |publisher=Electoral Calculus}}{{cite news |title=Hazel Grove |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/E14000738 |access-date=11 May 2015 |publisher=BBC News}} He stood down as a councillor and, in 2016, the Liberal Democrats won back the Hazel Grove council ward seat.{{cite web|url=http://democracy.stockport.gov.uk/mgElectionAreaResults.aspx?XXR=0&ID=638&RPID=13736019|title=Election Results|publisher=Stockport Borough Council|date= 5 May 2016|access-date=29 April 2018}}

In February 2016, Wragg disclosed that he had moved back to his parents' house in order to save money for a deposit on buying a house.{{cite news |last=Fitzgerald |first=Todd |date=10 February 2016 |title=Tory MP William Wragg moves back in with his parents because he says he can't afford to buy a house |url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/tory-mp-william-wragg-moves-10872019 |access-date=30 July 2017 |work=Manchester Evening News}}{{cite news |last=Hughes |first=Laura |date=10 February 2016 |title=Tory MP admits he has moved back into his parent's[sic] home to save up for a deposit |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/property/12150280/Tory-MP-admits-he-has-moved-back-into-his-parents-home-to-save-up-for-a-deposit.html |access-date=30 July 2017 |work=The Telegraph}}

In May 2016, it was reported that Wragg was one of a number of Conservative MPs being investigated by police in the 2015 general election party spending investigation, for allegedly spending more than the legal limit on constituency election campaign expenses; he was interviewed, under caution, by Police in 2017, after which Police passed his file to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).{{cite news |last1=Mason |first1=Rowena |last2=Watt |first2=Holly |date=16 March 2017 |title=Two Tory MPs reveal CPS is reviewing their election spending |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/mar/16/tory-mps-election-spending-karl-mccartney-william-wragg |access-date=20 January 2022 |work=The Guardian}} In May 2017, the CPS decided that no criminal charges would be brought.{{cite news |last1=Evans |first1=Martin |last2=Swinford |first2=Steven |date=10 May 2017 |title=CPS announces no charges in Conservative Party election spending investigation |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/05/10/cps-announce-no-charges-conservative-party-election-spending/ |access-date=30 July 2017 |work=The Telegraph}}

Wragg campaigned for Brexit in the 2016 EU membership referendum and, following the resignation of Prime Minister David Cameron, campaigned for Andrea Leadsom in the 2016 Conservative leadership election.{{cite web|url=https://www.williamwragg.org.uk/news/conservative-party-leader-contest-2016-update|title=Conservative Party Leader Contest 2016 - Update|website=William Wragg MP|date=5 July 2016|access-date=4 October 2019}}

At the snap 2017 general election, Wragg was re-elected as MP for Hazel Grove with an increased vote share of 45.4% and a decreased majority of 5,514.{{cite news |title=Hazel Grove parliamentary constituency |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/E14000738 |work=BBC News}} He had been targeted by the successor to the Remain campaign, Open Britain, for his support of a hard Brexit.{{cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/brexit-backing-mp-hit-list_uk_58feeec3e4b0288f5dc79419|work=HuffPost UK|last=York|first=Chris|title=Open Britain Attack List Of Brexit-Backing MPs Drawn Up Ahead Of General Election |access-date=30 July 2017|date=25 April 2017}} Wragg served on the Procedure, Education and Backbench Business Committees, and the Finance Committee.{{cite web|url=https://www.parliament.uk/biographies/commons/mr-william-wragg/4429|title=William Wragg MP|work=GOV.UK|access-date=29 April 2018}}

At the 2019 general election, Wragg was again re-elected with an increased vote share of 48.8% and a decreased majority of 4,423.{{Cite web|url=https://assets.ctfassets.net/ii3xdrqc6nfw/5yopV6Hsu9hkfvtH5RKd7B/d0dfb8178d71026cdf3828622fb8aec0/Statement_of_Persons_Nominated_and_Notice_of_Poll_-_Hazel_Grove.pdf|title=Statement of persons nominated 2019}} In January 2020, Wragg was elected to chair the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Select Committee.{{cite web |url=https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/327/public-administration-and-constitutional-affairs-committee/news/144795/william-wragg-elected-chair-of-public-administration-and-constitutional-affairs-committee/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221023050849/https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/327/public-administration-and-constitutional-affairs-committee/news/144795/william-wragg-elected-chair-of-public-administration-and-constitutional-affairs-committee/ |archive-date=23 October 2022 |title=William Wragg Elected Chair of Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee |publisher=parliament.uk |url-status=dead}} Wragg won the contest by 335 to 183 votes.{{cite web | title=Result Sheet | url=https://www.parliament.uk/globalassets/documents/commons/Results-spreadsheet-SC-Chairs-2020-a.pdf | page=13 | work=Parliament.uk | access-date=17 July 2021}}

Following an interim report on the connections between colonialism and properties now in the care of the National Trust, including links with historic slavery, Wragg was among the signatories of a letter to The Telegraph in November 2020 from the "Common Sense Group" of Conservative Parliamentarians. The letter accused the National Trust of being "coloured by cultural Marxist dogma, colloquially known as the 'woke agenda'".{{cite letter |recipient=the Daily Telegraph |subject=Britain's heroes |date=9 November 2020 |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/2020/11/09/letterswill-police-break-armistice-day-ceremonies-wednesday/ |access-date=30 January 2021 |author-mask=}}

In 2020, Wragg became a "lockdown rebel" and a steering committee member of the lockdown-sceptic COVID Recovery Group alongside a group of Conservatives who opposed the UK government's December 2020 lockdown.{{cite news |last=Hope |first=Christopher |title=Tory lockdown rebels unite to form Covid Recovery Group |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/11/10/headache-pm-dozens-conservative-mps-set-covid-recovery-group/ |work=The Telegraph |date=10 November 2020 |access-date=20 January 2022}} The Guardian described the group as European Research Group (ERG)-inspired,{{cite news|last1=Bland |first1=Archie |last2=Elgot |first2=Jessica |title= Dissatisfied Tory MPs flock to ERG-inspired pressure groups |work= The Guardian |url=https://theguardian.com/politics/2020/nov/11/dissatisfied-tory-mps-flock-to-erg-inspired-pressure-groups |date=11 November 2020 |access-date=20 May 2022}} and a response by backbench Conservatives to Nigel Farage's anti-lockdown Reform UK party.

On 12 January 2022, Wragg called for Prime Minister Boris Johnson to resign over the Westminster lockdown parties controversy.{{cite news |title=Boris Johnson: Senior Tories urge PM to quit after party apology |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-59972859 |work=BBC News |date=12 January 2022 |access-date=12 January 2022 |language=en-GB}} Wragg publicly confirmed he had submitted a letter of no confidence in Johnson.{{cite news |last1=Hope |first1=Christopher |title=Scotland Yard to meet with William Wragg over Downing Street blackmail claims |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2022/01/21/scotland-yard-meet-leading-conservative-mp-no-10-blackmail-claims/ |access-date=21 January 2022 |work=The Telegraph |date=21 January 2022}} On 20 January 2022, Wragg accused whips of blackmail against Conservative MPs who were believed to support ousting Johnson as prime minister. He said he had heard stories of MPs being told they could face loss of public investment in their constituencies and releasing of embarrassing stories.{{cite news |last=Swinford |first=Steven |title=Senior Tory William Wragg accuses No 10 of blackmailing Johnson plotters |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/no-10-parties-hurt-our-democracy-sajid-javid-admits-qvmg22pfz |work=The Times |date=20 January 2022 |access-date=20 January 2022 |issn=0140-0460}} On 24 January, the Metropolitan Police met with Wragg to discuss the allegations.

Wragg became the sixth MP to call for Prime Minister Liz Truss's resignation on 19 October 2022. He also submitted a letter of no confidence in her leadership.{{cite news |last1=Bet |first1=Martina |last2=McCrum |first2=Kirstie |title=Tory MP submits letter of no confidence in PM |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/uk-news/tory-mp-submits-letter-no-25304030 |access-date=19 October 2022 |work=WalesOnline |date=19 October 2022 |language=en}} On 22 November 2022, Wragg announced he would be standing down at the 2024 general election.{{Cite web |title=Senior Tory William Wragg to stand down as MP at next election |url=https://uk.news.yahoo.com/senior-tory-william-wragg-stand-201506308.html |access-date=2022-11-22 |website=uk.news.yahoo.com |date=22 November 2022 |language=en-GB}}

=Grindr honeytrap scandal=

In April 2024, Wragg admitted to sharing the contact details of several other Conservative MPs with a blackmailer after being the victim of a honeytrap on the gay dating app Grindr. Wragg had sent indecent images of himself to the blackmailer, who then threatened to release the images to the public unless Wragg provided the personal contacts of the other MPs. When the news of the affair broke, Wragg stated: "I was scared. I'm mortified. I'm so sorry that my weakness has caused other people hurt".{{Cite web |title=Honeytrap sext scandal: Tory MP William Wragg admits leaking phone numbers |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/article/william-wragg-tory-mp-honeytrap-sext-scandal-photo-whatsapps-63zqb3bd9 |url-access=subscription |access-date=2024-04-04 |website=The Times |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |last=Badshah |first=Nadeem |date=4 April 2024 |title=Senior Tory 'mortified' after reportedly passing MPs' data to dating app contact |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2024/apr/04/senior-tory-mortified-after-reportedly-passing-mps-data-to-dating-app-contact |website=The Guardian}}{{Cite web |date=5 April 2024 |title=William Wragg escapes Tory punishment for leaking phone numbers |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/william-wragg-honey-trap-hunt-investigation-b2524201.html |access-date=6 April 2024 |website=The Independent |language=en}} Wragg later quit both his role as chair of the Commons Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee and as vice chair of the 1922 Committee.{{cite news|url= https://news.sky.com/story/william-wragg-tory-mp-at-centre-of-sexting-scam-scandal-stands-down-from-two-top-commons-posts-13111184|title= William Wragg: Tory MP at centre of 'sexting scam' scandal stands down from two top Commons posts |date=8 April 2024 |work=Sky News}} On 9 April 2024 Wragg resigned the Conservative Party whip and sat as an Independent.{{Cite web |title=William Wragg: Tory MP at centre of Westminster sexting scandal quits parliamentary party |url=https://news.sky.com/story/william-wragg-mp-at-centre-of-westminster-sexting-scandal-gives-up-tory-whip-party-says-13111717 |access-date=10 April 2024 |website=Sky News |language=en}}

Personal life

In November 2024 Wragg spoke publicly about being a victim of catfishing. He recalled that he had struggled with his mental health in the past and had had suicidal thoughts which led to him being admitted to hospital.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cqxwyp837ego|title=William Wragg: I felt enormous guilt, says ex-MP in honeytrap scandal|date=15 November 2024|website=BBC News}}