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| Robert Jenrick adds hundreds of contacts to WhatsApp group in mix-up | Robert Jenrick adds hundreds of contacts to WhatsApp group in mix-up |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Hundreds of Westminster insiders were added to - and then swiftly deleted from - a WhatsApp group set up by shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick to promote his London marathon run. | Hundreds of Westminster insiders were added to - and then swiftly deleted from - a WhatsApp group set up by shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick to promote his London marathon run. |
| The mishap was laughed off by Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, who revealed that she too had briefly been a member of the chat along with senior journalists, former cabinet members and other Tory MPs. | The mishap was laughed off by Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, who revealed that she too had briefly been a member of the chat along with senior journalists, former cabinet members and other Tory MPs. |
| The BBC has been told Jenrick is not referring himself to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), which investigates data breaches. | The BBC has been told Jenrick is not referring himself to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), which investigates data breaches. |
| A source said the ICO did not need to be involved because the contacts had been added to the group for "personal purposes" and the risk of malicious use was low. | A source said the ICO did not need to be involved because the contacts had been added to the group for "personal purposes" and the risk of malicious use was low. |
| The ICO told BBC News that data protection law did not apply to the use of personal information for "domestic and household" purposes. | |
| But it said if "non-corporate communication channels" - such as WhatsApp groups - were being used for "professional purposes", data protection law would apply. | |
| A source said Jenrick had announced he was running in the London Marathon and "in a technical mix-up, a message designed for broadcast turned into a group chat". | |
| All of the contacts - which are believed to include former cabinet ministers Michael Gove and Therese Coffey among others - have been removed from the group and the chat has been deleted. | All of the contacts - which are believed to include former cabinet ministers Michael Gove and Therese Coffey among others - have been removed from the group and the chat has been deleted. |
| When asked if she had been added to the group chat, Badenoch laughed before replying: "Yes and then no, I think is the correct answer to that." | When asked if she had been added to the group chat, Badenoch laughed before replying: "Yes and then no, I think is the correct answer to that." |
| "I think he's running a marathon," Badenoch added. "I don't really understand yet what happened with the WhatsApp group." | "I think he's running a marathon," Badenoch added. "I don't really understand yet what happened with the WhatsApp group." |
| The BBC understands Jenrick's intention was to send messages about his marathon run individually to friends and colleagues in Westminster, in an attempt to raise money for charity. | The BBC understands Jenrick's intention was to send messages about his marathon run individually to friends and colleagues in Westminster, in an attempt to raise money for charity. |
| In a post on X, Reform UK chairman Zia Yusuf said Jenrick had appeared to add "his entire contact book" to the group chat. | In a post on X, Reform UK chairman Zia Yusuf said Jenrick had appeared to add "his entire contact book" to the group chat. |
| "He's now spending his morning deleting hundreds of them," Yusuf posted. | "He's now spending his morning deleting hundreds of them," Yusuf posted. |
| In reply to that post, Jenrick wrote: "Feeling left out again, Zia?" | In reply to that post, Jenrick wrote: "Feeling left out again, Zia?" |
| Jenrick said he was running the London Marathon for SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity, adding he was "rallying support for the cause". | Jenrick said he was running the London Marathon for SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity, adding he was "rallying support for the cause". |
| The Conservatives said they had consulted their data protection officer Andy Steadman, who had said this was not a party issue. | The Conservatives said they had consulted their data protection officer Andy Steadman, who had said this was not a party issue. |
| "This is nothing to do with the party, its a personal thing for Robert running a marathon," a Conservative spokesperson said. | "This is nothing to do with the party, its a personal thing for Robert running a marathon," a Conservative spokesperson said. |
| The BBC has seen screenshots of some of the messages in the group chat. | The BBC has seen screenshots of some of the messages in the group chat. |
| In one message, a member posted "RJ for PM". | In one message, a member posted "RJ for PM". |
| Badenoch was asked if Jenrick, who previously ran against her for the Conservative Party leadership, now poses a fresh threat to her. | Badenoch was asked if Jenrick, who previously ran against her for the Conservative Party leadership, now poses a fresh threat to her. |
| She said: "I have a great team and I'm leading a team that is uniting the Conservative Party. | She said: "I have a great team and I'm leading a team that is uniting the Conservative Party. |
| "And what we're really focused on now is ensuring that people understand that voting Conservative at the local elections is the only credible option". | "And what we're really focused on now is ensuring that people understand that voting Conservative at the local elections is the only credible option". |