Prime Minister Andy Burnham exchanged messages with an individual pretending to be Susie Wiles, the chief of staff to former US President Donald Trump, according to a report from Politico. The communications were described as being 'of no significance' by a person briefed on the matter, and Burnham quickly became suspicious that the person was not who they claimed to be.
Once concerns were raised, the suspicious activity was promptly reported to the relevant authorities, the source said. It is unclear when the incident occurred, though it happened after Burnham entered Downing Street. Politico reported that the British embassy was so concerned that it raised the case directly with the White House.
Government response and context
A UK Government spokesperson declined to comment, stating: 'We do not comment on national security matters.' This incident is not the first time Wiles has been targeted by impersonators. Last year, the Wall Street Journal reported that an unknown person had contacted top Republicans and business leaders while pretending to be her.
According to the US newspaper, senators and governors were among those who received texts and phone calls from someone posing as Wiles. The FBI and White House launched an investigation to identify the culprit, with Wiles telling associates that her phone contacts had been hacked, the WSJ said.
Burnham's relationship with Trump
Burnham first spoke with President Trump by phone on July 20, the day he succeeded Sir Keir Starmer as the UK's Prime Minister. The impersonation attempt comes amid heightened scrutiny of political communications and cybersecurity.
The incident underscores the ongoing risks of digital impersonation in political circles. The authorities have been alerted, and the matter is now in their hands, though no further details have been disclosed publicly.
