Prime Minister Burnham Targeted in Impersonation Attempt
Messages exchanged with individual posing as White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles before suspicion arose.
Callum Smith
Prime Minister Andy Burnham exchanged messages with an individual impersonating a senior US official.
This incident follows an FBI probe into Susie Wiles' phone being hacked in May of the previous year.
The British Embassy in Washington raised the incident with the White House, prompting an investigation.
The White House and FBI launched an investigation after senators, governors, and US business executives received similar communications.
No messages of significance were exchanged, and no phone calls took place between Prime Minister Burnham and the impersonator.
Officials insist the messages exchanged between Prime Minister Burnham and the impersonator were 'of no significance'; one source briefed on Downing Street communications also maintained they were 'of no significance' once Mr Burnham entered No10.
We do not comment on national security matters.
Only a "few messages" were reportedly exchanged, and these texts were "quickly reported to the appropriate authorities" once they were believed to be suspicious.
A government spokesperson stated, "We do not comment on national security matters."
The White House, however, stated that the incident had nothing to do with the Chief of Staff's devices being hacked.
A White House official confirmed, "This incident had nothing to do with the Chief of Staff's devices being hacked."
What was discussed by Mr Burnham remains unclear, with the erroneous contact reportedly kept undisclosed.
Mr Trump has previously spoken about Mr Burnham's plans for North Sea oil and immigration, offering a potential context for the targeting.
Separately, in December 2025, a US defense department report concluded Pete Hegseth endangered US service personnel by discussing military operation details in a group chat that included a journalist.
Lord David Cameron was reportedly duped by a hoaxer in 2024, interacting with someone impersonating ex-Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko.
Developers Adura are seeking approval for the Rosebank oil field and Jackdaw gas field, projecting significant investment and job creation. Environmental activists and artists have written to the Prime Minister opposing these projects due to climate change concerns.