Information
Oliver Steadman, a former Labour councillor in Islington, has been charged with blackmail and five counts of improper use of a communications network following a 17-month Metropolitan Police investigation into unsolicited messages sent to figures in Westminster. The case, dubbed the “Westminster honeytrap scandal,” involved personalised WhatsApp messages, sometimes including explicit photos, sent under the names “Abi” or “Charlie.” The Crown Prosecution Service alleges that Steadman made unwarranted demands for the phone numbers of up to 12 individuals and sent indecent images to several people within parliamentary circles between October 2023 and April 2024.
The scandal previously drew headlines when senior Conservative MP William Wragg resigned the Tory whip after admitting he had shared colleagues’ phone numbers with someone he met on a dating app, saying he had been pressured due to compromising information. Steadman, 28, was remanded in custody and will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on November 3, though he has not yet entered a plea. His Labour membership has been suspended pending the outcome of both the criminal proceedings and an internal party investigation.
Source: Politico, Reuters
So What
An interesting case that likely opened up several MPs to a tricky situation. One thing here is clear, some espionage tactics never get old. The use of honey traps is a long-running tactic that has proven to be effective time and time again. While this one was likely foiled before it could really get going, the intention was almost certainly there. Ideally, this leads to a bit of training for MPs and other political figures to ensure their safety and security.
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