Liz Truss’s phone ‘HACKED by Russian agents working for Vladimir Putin with top-secret information at risk’
LIZ Truss’s phone was hacked by agents suspected of working for Russian President Vladimir Putin, it was reported last night.
The cyber spies gained access to top secret details of talks Britain was having with its key allies as war raged in Ukraine.
In an astonishing security breach, messages Ms Truss sent to foreign powers and other Cabinet ministers are understood to have fallen into enemy hands.
Her phone was so compromised it has been locked in a safe at a secret government location, it is claimed.
The hack was discovered during the Tory leadership race while Ms Truss was still Foreign Secretary.
But details were kept secret by then-PM Boris Johnson and civil service chief Simon Case.
A source said: “This caused absolute pandemonium. Boris was told immediately and it was agreed with the Cabinet Secretary that there should be a total news blackout.
“It is not a great look for the intelligence services if the Foreign Secretary’s phone can be so easily plundered for embarrassing personal messages by agents presumed to be working for Putin’s Russia.”
The messages accessed are said to include secret discussions with foreign ministers about the war in Ukraine, the Mail on Sunday said.
Messages she swapped with close pal and fellow minister Kwasi Kwarteng were critical of Mr Johnson and are also understood to have been seen — sparking fears they could be used to blackmail her.
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Ms Truss was so worried about the security breach that she couldn’t sleep.
She feared news of it would torpedo her chance to become PM.
As Foreign Secretary, she took a hardline approach on Putin — vowing to stand by Ukraine in their battle against the Russian despot.
Ms Truss changed her number shortly after becoming PM as it had been for sale on the internet along with those of 25 other Cabinet ministers.
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Numbers for former Chancellor Kwarteng, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace, Foreign Secretary James Cleverly and Home Secretary Suella Braverman were among those listed on the site.
So was that of Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer.
Spooks are worried Russia and China are using cyber hackers to penetrate Britain’s top secrets.
Last night, Labour called for an urgent investigation.
Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: “This is extremely serious. There are immensely important national security issues raised by an attack like this by a hostile state. There are also serious security questions around why and how this information has been leaked right now.
“It is essential that all of these security issues are investigated and addressed at the very highest level.”
Lib Dem Foreign Affairs spokesperson Layla Moran also called for a probe and said: “If it turns out this information was withheld from the public to protect Liz Truss’s leadership bid, it would be unforgivable.”
A government spokesperson said: “We do not comment on individuals’ security arrangements. The Government has robust systems to protect against cyber threats.
“That includes regular security briefings for ministers and advice on protecting personal data and mitigating cyber threats.”
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Meanwhile, it was also claimed last night that during her final days in No10, Ms Truss became obsessed with the weather in case Putin detonated a nuclear bomb over the Black Sea — and caused a radioactive cloud to head for Britain.
A source said: “Liz was obsessed with the prevailing wind.”
