Who’s William Wragg? The MP at centre of sexting rip-off scandal | Politics Information

MP William Wragg is on the centre of controversy after he admitted sharing colleagues’ private telephone numbers with somebody he met on a courting app.

He was first elected to parliament because the Conservative member for Hazel Grove, Higher Manchester, in 2015 when he was simply 27.

Now 36, he has already introduced his intention to face down as an MP after the following normal election, saying his “misspent youth was in politics and I feel I would really like a break from it”.

On Tuesday night, Mr Wragg grew to become the 18th impartial MP within the Commons after he “voluntarily” gave up the Tory Get together whip following his function within the scandal.

Politics Stay: Tory who admits sharing particulars of different MPs with courting app person has been a ‘little bit of a clod’

Earlier than coming into Westminster, Mr Wragg served as a neighborhood councillor on Stockport Council between 2011 and 2015 and labored as a main college trainer.

He took his seat from the Liberal Democrats and, in doing so, grew to become the primary Conservative MP to symbolize the constituency since 1997.

Since being elected, he rose up the ranks to take up the function of chair of the Commons Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee (PACAC), which examines constitutional points and civil service issues.

He was additionally vice chair of the 1922 committee – the troublesome group of backbench MPs who meet weekly to debate their views and, extra lately, have overseen management elections and confidence votes. He has now stop each roles.

Nevertheless, Mr Wragg is maybe greatest recognized for being one thing of a thorn within the facet of the 4 leaders he has served beneath.

He campaigned for Brexit through the EU Referendum, and after David Cameron resigned, backed Andrea Leadsom to be Tory chief in opposition to Theresa Could – who finally went on to win.

Throughout Mrs Could’s tenure in Downing Road, he was considered one of greater than 100 rebels who voted in opposition to her Withdrawal Settlement with the EU.

He was one of many first Tory MPs to name for Boris Johnson to go amid the partygate scandal, alleging in January 2022 that authorities figures beneath the previous Tory chief had tried to blackmail MPs who have been talking out in opposition to him.

Mr Wragg additionally referred to as on Liz Truss to resign after her calamitous mini-budget, saying: “I am unable to go and communicate to my constituents, seemed them within the eye and say they need to vote for our nice occasion.”

Mr Wragg can be well-known for being open about his psychological well being. In the summertime of 2022, he took a “quick break” from his duties to get well from melancholy, writing on social media he had lived with melancholy and anxiousness most of his grownup life, and each have been on the time “extreme”.

He stated he hoped to return “refreshed” and “loving life and myself a little bit bit extra”.

Learn Extra:
The MPs who’ve introduced they’re standing down on the subsequent normal election

Many MPs have been sympathetic to Mr Wragg’s admitted involvement in an alleged “sexting rip-off”, with Chancellor Jeremy Hunt praising him for providing a “brave and fulsome” apology.

Mr Wragg instructed The Instances he was “manipulated” into giving private telephone numbers of colleagues to a person he met on a courting app for concern of intimate photos of himself being leaked.

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He stated he was sorry for his “weak spot”, which has induced harm for different individuals.

A subsequent report in The Instances stated Mr Wragg wouldn’t have the occasion whip eliminated, however a Tory spokesperson confirmed that Mr Wragg had determined to stop the parliamentary occasion himself.

A spokesperson for the Tory whips stated: “Following Will Wragg’s resolution to step again from his roles on the Public Accounts and 1922 committees, he has additionally notified the chief whip that he’s voluntarily relinquishing the Conservative whip.”

The admission got here after a number of experiences of MPs receiving unsolicited messages from two unknown WhatsApp customers.

On Friday, the Metropolitan Police confirmed it was involved with Leicestershire Police and Parliamentary Safety “following reporting of unsolicited messages to members of parliament”, amid considerations different MPs and their employees may very well be victims of blackmail.