CLAIMS that former PM Liz Truss’s personal phone was hacked by Russian agents while she was serving as foreign secretary have prompted calls for an urgent investigation. 

Cabinet minister Michael Gove declined yesterday to deny the reports, which have fuelled further fears of a lax approach to security among senior Tories.

Grilled on the issue, Mr Gove told Sophy Ridge on Sunday: “I don’t know the full details of what security breach, if any, took place. 

“What I do know is that the government has very robust protocols in place in order to make sure that individuals are protected, but also that government security and national security are protected as well.”

Reports claim that the agents who allegedly hacked into Ms Truss’s phone were believed to have gained access to confidential exchanges with other nations as well as private conversations with former chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng. 

It was also reported that the incident had been covered up by Cabinet Secretary Simon Case due to fears by Ms Truss that the revelation could harm her leadership bid. 

Labour has called for an investigation into the claims as well as the timing of the leak. 

Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said: “There are also serious security questions around why and how this information has been leaked or released right now which must also be urgently investigated.
 
“It is essential that all of these security issues are investigated and addressed at the very highest level and we need to know that the government recognises the gravity of this and the importance of fully protecting our national security.”

Ms Cooper told Sky News on Sunday that Home Secretary Suella Braverman’s own security breaches meant she was unable to give reassurances to the public on national security.