The Mail on Sunday can exclusively reveal that Liz Truss's personal mobile phone was hacked by agents suspected of working for the Kremlin. The cyber-spies are believed to have accessed top-secret exchanges with key international partners and private conversations with her close political ally, Kwasi Kwarteng.
One source said the phone was so heavily compromised that it has now been placed in a locked safe inside a secure Government location. The hack was discovered during the summer's Tory leadership campaign, when Ms Truss was Foreign Secretary, but details were suppressed by then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Cabinet Secretary Simon Case.
It is understood that messages which fell into foreign hands included criticisms Ms Truss and Mr Kwarteng made of Mr Johnson, leading to potential blackmail risk. Sources said up to a year's worth of messages were downloaded, including highly sensitive discussions about the war in Ukraine and arms shipments.
The incident solves the mystery of why Ms Truss changed her mobile number shortly before becoming Prime Minister, causing anxiety among Cabinet Ministers and advisers. A source said the breach 'caused absolute pandemonium' and a total news blackout was agreed.
Former Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith said: 'This is what we're up against. Russia does this all the time.' Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper called it 'extremely serious' and stressed the need for robust cyber-security. A Government spokesman declined to comment on individual security arrangements but said robust systems are in place.
