Following an unsubstantiated media story that suggested former British Prime Minister Liz Truss' phone was compromised while she was the country's foreign secretary, calls have been made for an investigation by the UK government.
Private communications between Truss and foreign ministries, especially those about the conflict in Ukraine, as well as communications with the late Kwasi Kwarteng, the former finance minister, reportedly fell "into foreign hands."
According to the newspaper, the hack was uncovered during the summertime contest for the Conservative Party's leadership, which ended with Truss being appointed prime minister.
The newspaper further asserted, using anonymous sources, that "operatives suspected of working for the Kremlin" were responsible for the breach.
CNN reports that they are unable to independently confirm the assertions made by the Mail on Sunday regarding whether a hack occurred or who was responsible.
The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been contacted by CNN for comment.
Scotland's Aberdeen, September 6: Liz Truss, the recently elected leader of the Conservative party, is greeted by Queen Elizabeth as she enters Balmoral Castle for an audience. On September 6, 2022, in Aberdeen, Scotland, she will be invited to become prime minister and form a new government. Because of her mobility limitations, the Queen had to stay at Balmoral Castle rather than visit the new prime minister at Buckingham Palace. Jane Barlow took this picture for WPA Pool/Getty Images.
How Liz Truss's term as prime minister of the United Kingdom deteriorated
According to a representative for the UK government, the government "does not comment on individuals' security arrangements," but they did add that they have "strong mechanisms in place to protect against cyber threats."
Tobias Ellwood, a Conservative lawmaker and chair of the government's Defense Select Committee, stated on Sunday on Sky News that Russia is "becoming more and better at these cyber-attacks and hacking."
He continued, "We take the strictest precautions to ensure that doesn't happen," adding that "the intelligence and security committee should look into it further."
opposition parties in the UK have called for a probe into the alleged allegations.
The study presents "immensely vital national security implications... which will have been treated extremely seriously by our intelligence and security agencies," according to Yvette Cooper, the opposition home secretary for the Labour Party.
In a tweet on Saturday, Layla Moran, the foreign policy spokesman for the Liberal Democrats, urged for a "immediate independent probe to uncover the truth."
