MP blasted for ‘want you' texts to Ukrainian translator
Lib Dem Cameron Thomas has been accused of 'abusing his power' by sending the messages to the Ukrainian translater assigned to his trip.
3
3
The newly-elected MP for Tewkesbury also texted the woman: 'I wish I could stay with you for a few days.'
He sent the messages - seen by The Sun on Sunday - while on an official trip to Kyiv in February this year to mark the third anniversary of the war.
The delegation included other MPs and political aides.
Mr Thomas, 42, then went on to deliver aid to Kharkiv, near the frontline of fighting.
A Tory MP aware of the allegations said: 'Given the courage and sacrifice shown by Ukrainians in the fight for their country's very existence, it is unthinkable that one of our MPs should be treating an official visit to a warzone in this way.
'To abuse his power as an MP by preying on a young woman is disgraceful.
'The Liberal Democrats should remove the whip.'
3
Approached by The Sun on Sunday over the claims his behaviour was 'inappropriate', a spokesman for Mr Thomas said: 'These are private messages between two people who have remained in contact.'
The Sun on Sunday also understands that Mr Cameron was using his UK personal phone in Ukraine.
Other politicians who have visited Ukraine on other trips have said they were advised not to take their UK phone, but to use a burner phone in Ukraine, because of the risk Russia could hack into them.
This raises questions over whether Mr Thomas' phone was compromised on the trip.
A spokeswoman for Parliament refused to say what security advice was given to Mr Thomas for the visit.
Mr Thomas, who used to be in the RAF, has previously spoken about the trip, telling the BBC: 'When we were dropping off aid you can feel the gratitude.
'They regularly cite our finest hour, the Battle of Britain, as a template for what they are doing - standing up to a far superior power and holding their own, and that makes me proud to be British.'
A Parliament spokeswoman said: 'The Parliamentary Security Department provides advice to Members of Parliament on overseas travel which draws on FCDO advice. However, we are unable to comment on specific cases.'
The Lib Dems declined to comment.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
19 minutes ago
- The Independent
Putin is floating a new nuclear deal with the US ahead of Trump talks. Here's why
Russian President Vladimir Putin has indicated he wants to pursue a new nuclear weapons agreement with US President Donald Trump, ahead of their anticipated summit in Alaska on Friday. The potential accord is framed by Mr Putin as part of a wider initiative to bolster global peace, coming amid persistent pressure from Mr Trump to de-escalate the three-and-a-half-year conflict in Ukraine. Moscow views the Ukrainian situation as integral to a complex web of security concerns that have elevated East-West tensions to their highest point since the Cold War. Despite Kyiv's repeated calls for an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire, Mr Putin has resisted, even as Russian forces continue their gradual advance in Ukraine. However, progress on a new arms control treaty at the summit could allow Mr Putin to present himself as actively engaged in broader peace efforts. This, in turn, might help dissuade Mr Trump from imposing new sanctions on Russia and its key exports, including oil, a measure the US leader has previously threatened. Such a development could also signify a broader push to mend relations with Washington, particularly concerning trade and economic ties, areas the Kremlin believes hold significant untapped potential. Why has Putin repeatedly talked up Russia's nuclear arsenal? Throughout the war, Mr Putin has delivered veiled threats about using nuclear missiles and warned that entering a direct confrontation with Russia could lead to World War Three. They have included verbal statements, war games, and lowering Russia's threshold for using nuclear weapons. The fact that Russia has more nuclear weapons than any other country gives it a stature in this domain that far exceeds its conventional military or economic power, allowing Mr Putin to face Mr Trump as an equal on the world stage when it comes to security. How many nuclear weapons do Russia and the US have? According to the Federation of American Scientists, Russia and the United States have estimated military stockpiles of 4,309 and 3,700 nuclear warheads respectively. China trails behind with an estimated 600. What does the existing US-Russia nuclear treaty say? Signed by then-US president Barack Obama and his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev in 2010, the New START treaty caps the number of strategic nuclear warheads that the United States and Russia can deploy. Each is limited to no more than 1,550, and a maximum of 700 long-range missiles and bombers. Strategic weapons are those designed by each side to hit the enemy's centres of military, economic and political power. The treaty came into force in 2011 and was extended in 2021 for five more years after US President Joe Biden took office. In 2023, Mr Putin suspended Russia's participation but Moscow said it would continue to observe the warhead limits. The treaty expires on 5 February 2026. Security analysts expect both sides to breach the limits if it is not extended or replaced. What are the other nuclear points of contention? In a symptom of the underlying tensions, Mr Trump this month said he had ordered two US nuclear submarines to move closer to Russia because of what he called threatening comments by Mr Medvedev about the possibility of war with the US. The Kremlin played down the move but said "everyone should be very, very careful" with nuclear rhetoric. Separately, an arms race looms over shorter- and intermediate-range missiles, which can also carry nuclear warheads. During Mr Trump's first presidency, in 2019, he pulled the US out of a treaty that had abolished all ground-based weapons in this category. Moscow denied his accusations that it was cheating. The United States plans to start deploying weapons including SM-6 and Tomahawk missiles, previously placed mainly on ships, as well as new hypersonic missiles, in Germany from 2026. Russia said this month it no longer observes any restrictions on where it might deploy intermediate-range missiles.
The Independent
19 minutes ago
- The Independent
UK university tuition fees could rise again
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson is considering allowing universities to raise tuition fees annually in line with inflation to improve their financial stability. This follows a previous announcement that tuition fees, frozen at £9,250 since 2017, would increase in September 2025 based on the Retail Price Index. The proposal addresses concerns about the financial health of universities, with a report indicating 40 per cent of English institutions may face budget deficits this year. A significant factor contributing to universities' financial struggles is a decline in the number of international students. Labour's position on tuition fees has evolved, with Keir Starmer retracting his pledge to abolish them, now seeking a "fairer solution" due to affordability concerns.
The Independent
19 minutes ago
- The Independent
Putin praises Trump's ‘energetic and sincere' efforts to end Ukraine war
Vladimir Putin has praised Donald Trump 's 'energetic and sincere' attempts to end the war in Ukraine. Speaking to senior officials in Moscow on Thursday (14 August), the Russian leader said that the US is trying to 'reach agreements that are of interest to all parties involved in this conflict'. 'The US administration … in my view is making quite energetic and sincere efforts to end the fighting,' he stated. Putin, who will meet with Trump on Friday (15 August) in Alaska for talks on the three-year conflict, said the US president is aiming to 'create long-term peace' not only for Ukraine and Russia, but the 'world as a whole'.
