Chinese state-sponsored hackers infiltrated the phones of senior Downing Street officials over several years, according to reports disclosed on Monday evening.
The cyber-espionage campaign, known as Salt Typhoon, is believed to have compromised close advisers to three successive prime ministers between 2021 and 2024, The Telegraph has revealed.
Aides to Boris Johnson, Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak were said to be targeted, potentially exposing private communications to Chinese intelligence services.
One source familiar with the breach said it reached “right into the heart of Downing Street”.
However, it remains unclear whether the prime ministers’ own devices were directly compromised.
US intelligence officials said on Monday that the Salt Typhoon operation is believed to remain active, raising concerns that Sir Keir Starmer and members of his team could also be vulnerable.
The operation formed part of a wider global espionage campaign attributed to Beijing, which extended across multiple countries, including the US and fellow Five Eyes partners Australia, Canada and New Zealand.
Intelligence agencies only uncovered the breaches in 2024, despite the intrusions allegedly dating back at least three years.
US intelligence officials said on Monday that the Salt Typhoon operation is believed to remain active
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Investigators believe Chinese hackers gained access through telecommunications companies worldwide, enabling them to obtain phone data belonging to millions of users.
The attackers were said to be able to intercept text messages, monitor phone calls and track users’ locations.
Anne Neuberger, who was serving as Deputy US National Security Adviser at the time, said the hackers could “record phone calls at will”.
Even where calls were not directly intercepted, the intruders may have gathered metadata revealing contact networks and approximate locations of senior government figures.
One source familiar with the breach said it reached ‘right into the heart of Downing Street’
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The revelations come as Sir Keir prepares to travel to China this week, marking the first visit by a British PM since Theresa May went to Beijing in 2018.
The trip follows the Government’s approval of plans for a new Chinese “super-embassy” in London last week.
Shadow Minister for National Security Alicia Kearns, herself an alleged target in a separate Westminster spy case, launched a scathing attack on Labour’s approach.
“How much more evidence does this Government need before it ends its simpering to Xi and stands tall as the great country we are and defends us?” she said.
The Government have been urged to simpering to President Xi Jinping
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DOWNING STREET“Labour is rewarding hostile acts against our state.”
MI5 issued an espionage alert to Parliament in November warning of Chinese state-sponsored surveillance threats.
Dakota Cary, from the Atlantic Council’s Global China Hub, said Salt Typhoon focused on infiltrating telecommunications firms to intercept communications between individuals.
“We know that China has been interested in obtaining political intelligence on MPs and decision-making in British politics,” he said.
Parliament’s Intelligence and Security Committee concluded last month that the “Government has no strategy on China, let alone an effective one”.
A Chinese embassy spokesman said: “China is a staunch defender of cyber security and one of the major victims of cyber espionage and attacks.
“We have been resolute in combating all kinds of malign cyber activities in accordance with the law, and never encourage, support or condone cyber-attacks.
“We firmly oppose the practice of politicising cyber-security issues or accusing other countries without evidence.”
GB News has approached Downing Street for comment.