A former member of the Labour party is facing charges in connection with an alleged scheme targeting Members of Parliament. Oliver Steadman, aged 28, is accused of blackmail for reportedly demanding the contact details of 12 individuals from one victim and sending WhatsApp messages to five people within Westminster circles, according to authorities.
Numerous individuals, including MPs from both the Conservative and Labour parties, were allegedly contacted with flirtatious messages by someone claiming the names “Charlie” or “Abi.” Following the exchange of explicit photos, at least two MPs were said to have reciprocated with similar images.
Steadman is confronting five charges related to communication offenses, as confirmed by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). Malcolm McHaffie, the head of CPS’s Special Crime Division, stated that the decision to prosecute Steadman was made after an investigation by the Metropolitan Police Service uncovered unsolicited indecent images sent via WhatsApp to various individuals in political circles between October 2023 and April 2024.
The CPS emphasized that there is substantial evidence to proceed with the case and that it is in the public interest to pursue legal action. Steadman is scheduled to appear before Westminster Magistrates’ Court for an initial hearing on Monday, November 3, 2025.
Steadman voluntarily resigned as a Labour councillor on Islington Council in North London in June of the previous year and is currently under suspension by the party. He was taken into custody in June of the same year and has been on bail since then, awaiting his court appearance.
Efforts are ongoing to provide support and guidance to those impacted by the situation.
