Current Affairs

[oldbluefox]

I imagine in such situations security will just bring down the shutters and the matter will be dealt with internally which is how it will remain unless somebody leaks it. I expect there will be much scurrying around the defence department to find out who it was as I expect it contravenes the Official Secrets Act.

[towny44]

Here we go, latest news incoming.

It’s being reported that Liz Truss’s phone was hacked this summer by Russian spies and this was covered up by then PM Johnson and Cabinet Secretary Simon Case.

If true, let’s see how this plays out. If Sunak is genuine about accountability, there’ll have to be a sacking or two here.

As Keefie says this would have been dealt with by the security services, and just repeating the claim on a social media forum could possibly be considered a treasonous offence, don't you think?

[Mervyn and Trish]

It's about time someone was prosecuted under the Officiial Secrets Act to put a stop to the self righteous politically motivated tittle tattle. I agree with others that the decision not to splash this incident in the Guardian and Twitter was surely security driven rather than a political cover up.

[Kendhni]

I see the BBC is running with this story as well.
I liked the bit where the government said it had "robust" cyber-threat protection in place. Not that robust if foreign agencies and the likes of Braverman were able to circumvent it so easily. BTW, well done to the whistleblower for reporting Braverman (at least that allows the 'security protection' to be made more 'robust' by exposing the weak links).

[david63]

Must be a slow news day because this, to me, is a no story story. Cover up? More like something that we don't need to know. I would make a guess that there are dozens, if not hundreds, of items that pass through the Cabinet Office every day that we are not told about for any number of reasons.

here’ll have to be a sacking or two here

Why should anybody be sacked (other than the one who leaked this information) - in fact there should be commendations for those charged with protecting our security for doing their job and finding this.

I fully expect that all senior Government employees and top politicians, from all parties, have their phones, emails etc targeted all the time.

As others have said whoever leaked this information (and there will probably only be a handful of potential culprits) should be hauled before the courts - as should the Mail on Sunday. There is a possibility that releasing this information has done more harm than good - for example the security services may have wanted the hackers to believe that they had succeeded in the hacking, plus it also means that the security services have now lost one of the hacking routes.

What is probably of more concern is which of Liz Truss's phones was the hacking against? If it was her personal phone then she should have known better than to conduct Government business on that phone but should have been using her secure Government phone.

One other point - if this is such a major issue and it happened several months ago why has this just been leaked to the press (other than someone is after a payout1) - this is the start of partygate all over again - another attempt by the media to bring the Government down.

[towny44]

Must be a slow news day because this, to me, is a no story story. Cover up? More like something that we don't need to know. I would make a guess that there are dozens, if not hundreds, of items that pass through the Cabinet Office every day that we are not told about for any number of reasons.

here’ll have to be a sacking or two here

Why should anybody be sacked (other than the one who leaked this information) - in fact there should be commendations for those charged with protecting our security for doing their job and finding this.

I fully expect that all senior Government employees and top politicians, from all parties, have their phones, emails etc targeted all the time.

As others have said whoever leaked this information (and there will probably only be a handful of potential culprits) should be hauled before the courts - as should the Mail on Sunday. There is a possibility that releasing this information has done more harm than good - for example the security services may have wanted the hackers to believe that they had succeeded in the hacking, plus it also means that the security services have now lost one of the hacking routes.

What is probably of more concern is which of Liz Truss's phones was the hacking against? If it was her personal phone then she should have known better than to conduct Government business on that phone but should have been using her secure Government phone.

One other point - if this is such a major issue and it happened several months ago why has this just been leaked to the press (other than someone is after a payout1) - this is the start of partygate all over again - another attempt by the media to bring the Government down.

Whilst I agree with you totally David, I imagine that those with an anti govt. bias will never accept your views, that is of course until their chosen party actually becomes the govt.

[Onelife]

Good points, well made David

[Gill W]

This forum is so funny.

All desperate to kid yourselves that the former foreign Secretary using her personal phone for official business and then being hacked by Russian agents at a time when we are supporting Russia’s opponents in a war, is no big deal.

Not to mention the usual narrative that the whistleblowers are worse than the people they are blowing the whistle on

[david63]

the former foreign Secretary using her personal phone for official business

Does anyone know that for a fact?

Not to mention the usual narrative that the whistleblowers are worse than the people they are blowing the whistle on

In some circumstances they can be

You seem intent on trying to disparage the Government, any Government, at every opportunity

[Onelife]

This forum is so funny.

All desperate to kid yourselves that the former foreign Secretary using her personal phone for official business and then being hacked by Russian agents at a time when we are supporting Russia’s opponents in a war, is no big deal.

Not to mention the usual narrative that the whistleblowers are worse than the people they are blowing the whistle on

I can make an unqualified opinion as to who I think should be given ministerial roles, I would however like to think the person who makes these decisions, does so based on who they think are best equipped to fill these roles. I take the view that Braverman made a mistake, one which hasn’t been covered up and one from which she and others will be far more aware of their responsibilities surrounding political and personal security.

I’m certainly not kidding myself that this incident wasn’t a bad error of judgment but can forgive if Sunak thinks she is the best person for the job.

Despite it being a sharp learning curve, one will hope that this incident makes her a better Home Secretary in what are very trying times.

[Manoverboard]

I agree with you OL, a calm and measured approach is so much more sensible than a hysterical rush for the sword as practiced by some.

[david63]

I thought we were talking about a former Foreign Secretary - not the former/current Home Secretary.

[Kendhni]

Why should anybody be sacked (other than the one who leaked this information) - in fact there should be commendations for those charged with protecting our security for doing their job and finding this.

It is the whistleblowers that deserve commendations - the security services failed in accomplishing their goal and were, quite probably, none the wiser had it not been for people reporting breaches in security.

Every year we have to do a set of training courses. One of these is 'Whistleblower', in which it is made clear that if we are privy to a breach of security, data or behaviour and do not report it we will be held just as culpable as those carrying out the breach ... up to and including dismissal and significant personal fines (some countries have legislation with teeth).

[Kendhni]

I’m certainly not kidding myself that this incident wasn’t a bad error of judgment but can forgive if Sunak thinks she is the best person for the job.

To be totally fair, it wasn't just a bad judgement, it was a deliberate action ... she had to first knowingly send private documents from her government account to a private account before forwarding them on. There are reasons why this is not allowed ... and in my own company I could be dismissed for this very action, as a minimum I would get a written warning. Secondly she did not admit to the breach until after the whistleblower had reported it.

[towny44]

I thought we were talking about a former Foreign Secretary - not the former/current Home Secretary.

So did I, the post from Gill said it was Liz Truss's phone that was hacked during the summer, presumably during the initial election process.

[Stephen]

Probably one of our security services such as MI5

Liz Truss phone hack claim prompts calls for investigation https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-63442813

[Kendhni]

Probably one of our security services such as MI5

Liz Truss phone hack claim prompts calls for investigation https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-63442813

That is a really bad picture of her ... makes her look like Steph McGovern. eeuuuggghhh

[Onelife]

The modes of communication between parliamentary departments/colleagues are always vulnerable to those who wish to take advantage, whether that be for personal or political disruption/gain.

A functioning government would very quickly fall apart if every phone call, text, email, verbal interaction has to be vetted for fear of interception.

Clearly mistakes were made by both ministers but if we are to move forward such incidents need to remain behind closed doors, with lessons learned in order that parliamentary business doesn’t fall into a state of paralysis.

[Mervyn and Trish]

There are official channels through which whistle blowers can properly raise their concerns. That is not the same as self righteous politically motivated tittle tatting to the media to try to undermine the democratic process.

Some of these whistle blowers are Civil Servants who have a professional and legal obligation to political neutrality and who have signed the Official Secrets Act. Far from commendations they should be summarily dismissed and prosecuted if identified.

The opposition probably find this very amusing at the moment but it is becoming endemic. If it's not stamped out they'll find the boot is on the other foot when it's their turn in power.

[david63]

It is the whistleblowers that deserve commendations - the security services failed in accomplishing their goal and were, quite probably, none the wiser had it not been for people reporting breaches in security.

We don't know whether the security services did, or did not, know about this alleged hacking - and they are hardly going to say one way or the other.

There is a vast difference between a whistleblower reporting a breach of security to the appropriate channels and that of a whistleblower leaking it to the press

[screwy]

Should be taken out and shot, in my view,along with sympathisers.

[Kendhni]

It is the whistleblowers that deserve commendations - the security services failed in accomplishing their goal and were, quite probably, none the wiser had it not been for people reporting breaches in security.

We don't know whether the security services did, or did not, know about this alleged hacking - and they are hardly going to say one way or the other.

There is a vast difference between a whistleblower reporting a breach of security to the appropriate channels and that of a whistleblower leaking it to the press

Agree totally, those that report breaches through official channels deserve to be commended .. those that go directly to the press deserve to be strung up by the testicles/tubes and dipped in acid.

[Stephen]

I see your going for the soft option Ken

[Kendhni]

I see your going for the soft option Ken

That would be my soft cuddly side

[screwy]

We’ll I was going to book a hotel for a few nights UK break, but apparently they’re all going to be booked by the Home Office.!