The government has been urged to launch an urgent investigation after reports that Liz Truss’ phone was hacked.
The breach was discovered when Truss, then Foreign Secretary, was running for Tory leadership in the summer, but details were suppressed by then Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Cabinet Secretary Simon Case, the Mail on Sunday reported.
Spies suspected of working for Russian President Vladimir Putin gained access to sensitive information, including discussions about the Ukraine war with foreign officials, the newspaper said, citing unnamed sources.
It was also alleged that private conversations between Truss and Kwasi Kwarteng criticizing Johnson had fallen into the hands of the hackers, leaving them at risk of blackmail.
Opposition parties are calling for an investigation into the alleged attack, which will raise questions about Britain’s cybersecurity as well as the Johnson and Case verdict.
Labour’s shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: “An attack like this by a hostile state raises immensely important national security issues which our intelligence and security agencies take extremely seriously.
“There are also serious security questions as to why and how this information was leaked or released right now that also urgently need to be investigated.
“It is important that all of these security issues are investigated and addressed at the highest level, and we need to know that the government recognizes the seriousness of this matter and the importance of fully protecting our national security.”
Liberal Democrat foreign policy spokeswoman Layla Moran said: “We urgently need an independent investigation to uncover the truth. Was Liz Truss’s phone hacked by Russia, was there a message blackout and if so, why?
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“If it turns out that this information was withheld from the public to protect Liz Truss’s bid for the leadership position, it would be unforgivable.”
A government spokesman said: “We do not comment on the safety precautions taken by individuals.
“The government has robust systems in place to protect against cyber threats. This includes regular security briefings for ministers and advice on how to protect their personal data and mitigate cyber threats.”
Source : www.theguardian.com