In a recent development, a security breach has come to light, suggesting that Rishi Sunak’s old phone number and a voicemail recording have been leaked online by pranksters. The incident, initially reported by The Sun, raises questions about the government’s claims that the number was no longer in use.
It is worth noting that Prime Minister Boris Johnson faced a similar situation in the past, leading him to change his phone number. This incident puts the government under scrutiny regarding its handling of confidential information.
The leaked recording may potentially have significant implications, particularly for the ongoing Covid inquiry. If the voicemail is confirmed to be recent and authentic, it could prompt inquiries into why the government asserted that old messages were unrecoverable for the Covid inquiry.
During his testimony to the inquiry, Rishi Sunak cited his multiple phone changes as a reason for his inability to produce certain WhatsApp messages. Similarly, Prime Minister Boris Johnson claimed that he lacked access to messages from his time as head of the Treasury due to a failure to back them up.
The Covid inquiry, currently in its second stage, has requested crucial communications sent between January 2020 and February 2022. This includes messages from Sunak, Johnson, and approximately 40 other high-ranking officials and advisers.
It is reported that Sunak was provided with a new phone number upon assuming the position of Prime Minister. In his witness statement, Sunak expressed his expectation that officials responsible for relevant WhatsApp groups would have taken steps to preserve information if it needed to be part of the official record.
Moreover, Simon Case, the cabinet secretary, is expected to testify in the coming weeks after WhatsApp messages revealed informal comments about the government’s response to the pandemic. He is currently on a brief medical absence, but is scheduled to return to work in a few weeks, according to the Cabinet Office.
This incident underscores the importance of safeguarding sensitive information and raises questions about the security protocols within the government. The implications of this breach could reverberate through the ongoing inquiry into the government’s handling of the Covid-19 pandemic.
