CANNY government whips set up a Coleen Rooney-style “Wagatha Christie” sting to catch a leaker.
Tory MP Andrew Lewer, 49, was axed as a parliamentary private secretary after falling into a trap designed to nail someone who was giving information to the media.
He was among several of the senior aides sent slightly differently-worded letters warning that the ministerial code “strictly prohibits” leaking.
The one Lewer received appeared in full on a political website on Thursday.
Lewer, MP for Northampton South, suggested a staff member had access to his emails.
He told the Politico website: “In nearly 20 years of elected office I have never leaked to the Press.”
‘ZERO TOLERANCE’
Chief whip Mark Spencer organised the sting after PM Boris Johnson was enraged by leaks coming from his government — especially over lockdown.
No10 insiders were delighted the plan had worked.
A source said: “Leaks undermine the Government’s ability to operate effectively and the chief takes a zero tolerance approach to people who should be on our team who leak letters.”
It comes after Coleen, 34, suspected someone was feeding info from her Instagram to the Press — so took action.
She blocked all her followers save one, and posted a series of fake stories which appeared in the media.
She blamed Rebekah Vardy, 38, who denied it. She is suing Coleen.
The women have agreed a stay in the proceedings to try to settle out of court.
