Andy Burnham Targeted in Sophisticated Impersonation Hoax
Incident follows similar breaches involving high-profile politicians, raising security concerns and linking to broader issues of online radicalisation.
Carla Rooney
Andy Burnham communicated with an individual posing as Susie Wiles, who claimed to be US President Donald Trump's chief of staff.
The communication between Burnham and the impersonator occurred through messages, not a direct conversation. These exchanges began before Burnham became Prime Minister and continued after he took office on July 20.
Mr Burnham maintained the exchange was minimal, of zero consequence, and promptly reported. He stated, "So I handled it in the right way. All politicians are receiving these pressures and these challenges, but I did everything right."
So I handled it in the right way. All politicians are receiving these pressures and these challenges, but I did everything right.
Burnham further confirmed, "The correct action has been taken here and in the US." He added, "No, I’m not, because there was a minimal exchange, nothing of consequence, and actually, quickly I realised that this needed to be reported, and I did so."
Donald Trump described the incident as a 'miscommunication' during an Oval Office press conference, stating, "I’m sure that he had a miscommunication." A White House official confirmed this incident was unrelated to Susie Wiles' phone being hacked.
Downing Street did not disclose when the messages were exchanged, the total number of communications, or the specific system used for the exchange. Concerns were raised about the exchange, despite Burnham's assessment.
This incident follows a pattern of impersonation targeting British politicians. Lord Cameron, then-foreign secretary, fell victim to a hoax call in 2024, where an individual impersonated former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and exchanged text messages.
The Foreign Office claimed the perpetrators in the Lord David Cameron hoax call were clearly Russian. Separately, Priti Patel and Ben Wallace were also targeted by hoaxers in 2022.
Liberal Democrat MP James MacCleary has written to Parliament's Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) to request an investigation into the security breach. MacCleary stated, "We need to understand how this breach could occur, or else risk it being repeated."
We need to understand how this breach could occur, or else risk it being repeated.
Defence Secretary Wes Streeting, Justice Secretary Alex Norris, and Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Bryant reportedly had their mobile numbers leaked online. Dame Rachel de Souza, the children's commissioner for England, claims children in the UK are becoming intoxicated by extremism on social media.
Safety experts are deeply concerned that children are being drawn into radicalisation and violence fascination online, Dame Rachel de Souza states.