Security Concerns
Sir Keir Starmer was reportedly compelled to abandon his personal email account following an inquiry by security services into a suspected Russian hack. His office head, Jill Cuthbertson, instructed staff not to contact the then opposition leader under any circumstances in 2022. Starmer subsequently changed his email address due to security concerns.
Security Breach
The PM's account was compromised shortly after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. While there was no evidence of published emails, security services could not assure that sensitive information had not been accessed by unauthorized parties.
Similar Instances
During the same period, Kremlin operatives targeted accounts of British Eurosceptics, including Sir Richard Dearlove, former head of MI6. More than 20,000 leaked emails were unveiled online as a result of these hacks.
Political Ramifications
Details of the suspected hack and its aftermath are disclosed in the book "Get In," which chronicles Starmer's political journey. The book was serialized in Trending In The Newsday Times. Additionally, it was mentioned that Liz Truss, the former Conservative prime minister, had her phone hacked while serving as foreign secretary, with the news being suppressed during the Tory leadership campaign.
