A member of the main opposition Labour Party has been arrested by the London Metropolitan Police (Met) in connection with a honeytrap plot targeting lawmakers and journalists. The suspect, a man in his mid-20s, was taken into custody on suspicion of harassment and committing offenses under the Online Safety Act. The arrest follows an ongoing investigation by the Met’s Parliamentary Liaison and Investigation Team, which was initiated after reports of unsolicited messages sent to MPs and other individuals.
The suspect’s arrest has prompted the Labour Party to immediately suspend his membership. The party, expected to have a significant presence in the upcoming elections, has refrained from further comments, citing the ongoing police investigation.
The honeytrap plot, which began in April, involved an unknown scammer using the aliases “Charlie” and “Abi” to send flirtatious messages to MPs and other political figures. The intention was to coax them into sending explicit photos that could be used for blackmail purposes. At least 12 men with links to Westminster were reported to have received such unsolicited messages.
Initial speculation surrounding the plot centered on the potential involvement of hostile foreign governments. However, the arrest of a Labour Party member suggests a different direction for the investigation.
