The British government insisted on Sunday that it offers robust cybersecurity to government officials, after a newspaper reported that former Prime Minister Liz Truss’ phone was hacked while she was Foreign Secretary from the United Kingdom.
The Mail on Sunday revealed the act of hacking was uncovered over the summer when Ms Truss was running to become Conservative Party leader and Prime Minister. However, the security breach was kept secret by then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson and the head of the civil service, according to the weekly newspaper.
The article, which cites unnamed sources, said Russian spies were suspected of hacking. The hackers gained access to sensitive information, including discussions about the war in Ukraine with foreign officials, as well as private conversations between Truss and a political ally, former Treasury chief Kwasi Kwarteng.
The UK government spokesperson declined to comment on the security arrangements, but said there were “robust systems in place to protect against cyber threats”, including regular security briefings for ministers.
Opposition parties, however, demanded an independent investigation into the hack, and the leak of information to a newspaper.
“Was Liz Truss’ phone hacked by Russia? Was there an embargo on this information and if so, why? “Questioned openly Layla Moran, foreign affairs spokesperson for the Liberal Democrats. “If it turns out that this information was withheld from the public to protect Liz Truss’s leadership bid, that would be unforgivable,” she added.
Yvette Cooper, Labor Party spokesperson for law and order, for her part said that “the story raises questions of cybersecurity”.
“This is why cybersecurity must be taken seriously by all members of government,” she told Sky News.
“There are also the allegations that a cabinet minister is using a personal phone for serious government business. This raises serious questions as well as why this story has been leaked at this time,” Ms. Cooper pointed out.