DThe new British government on Sunday pledged to adhere to “robust security measures” after a newspaper reported that text messages from former Prime Minister Liz Truss were believed to have been overheard by Russian intelligence. The “Mail on Sunday” had reported, citing unspecified “sources”, that Agent Truss’ mobile phone had been hacked during the election campaign to succeed Boris Johnson – at the time she was Foreign Secretary. The phone has now been locked in a safe place.
Fears are said to be circulating in the security apparatus that the government could have made itself susceptible to blackmail. Private text messages were “hacked” in which Truss and her future Chancellor of the Exchequer, Kwai Kwarteng, were critical of the then Prime Minister Johnson. Text messages with other foreign ministers are also said to have been read. It was also about detailed security-related information, such as questions about arms deliveries to Ukraine.
Michael Gove, one of the top ministers in Rishi Sunak’s new government, said on Sunday: “I’m not given full details of what, if any, security breaches have taken place.” But he was “confident that Liz (Truss) followed all the recommendations she received from the intelligence and security apparatus, both as foreign and prime minister.” The government “takes security issues incredibly seriously, so I have to be cautious about my comments on Liz’s cell phone.”
“Absolute tumult” in government
The Mail on Sunday accused Johnson and Truss of hiding the incident for political reasons. According to a source, the newspaper said the incident caused “absolute turmoil” in the government and in the Truss camp. Johnson was informed immediately but decided with his cabinet secretary, Simon Case, the country’s most senior official, to impose a news blackout. “It doesn’t look great when the foreign minister’s phone can easily be looted by agents believed to be working for Putin’s Russia,” the source said.
Supporters of the Truss campaign, on the other hand, are said to have been concerned that reporting on the hacked cell phone could have reduced their chances of voting. Truss had “difficulty sleeping” until Downing Street decided to keep the matter secret.
Government business handled via Whatsapp?
Buckingham University security expert Anthony Glees called the process “absolutely outrageous” on Sunday and accused the government of being “too lax” on national security issues. Ministers would conduct government business via the Whatsapp platform or private email accounts, which is irresponsible.
In doing so, he was apparently also referring to the case of Suella Braverman, who resigned as Home Secretary at the end of the Truss government after she had sent a confidential government bill in a private email to a friend of hers. This had come out because the mail had also been unintentionally sent to a different recipient. Braverman was recalled to her old post by Sunak on Tuesday.
The new administration has since defended the personnel decision, arguing that Braverman apologized and took the consequences by resigning quickly. Over the weekend, however, it emerged that between sending it and resigning, she had sent another email asking the recipient to delete and forget the email. This led opposition politicians to question whether she initially tried to cover up her mistake.