David Lammy, the former deputy Prime Minister, is accused of providing the phone number of a fraudster to Prime Minister Andy Burnham. The individual had been impersonating Susie Wiles, a key aide to former U.S. President Donald Trump.
Burnham reportedly exchanged messages with the impersonator, with exchanges beginning before he took office on July 20 and continuing afterward. The incident has prompted major security concerns and was subsequently reported to the White House.
A source told The Sun on Sunday that Lammy believed he was assisting the new Prime Minister by providing the contact information for a powerful figure in Washington. However, it later emerged that the number belonged to a fraudster, an event described as a significant embarrassment for Lammy.
Lammy, who was removed from the Cabinet when Burnham became Prime Minister, has previously highlighted his connections to the Trump administration and his relationship with Vice President JD Vance.
Downing Street stated that only a few messages were exchanged and that their content was not significant. When questioned about the incident, Burnham asserted he was not embarrassed.
"No, I'm not, because there was a minimal exchange, nothing of consequence, and actually, quickly I realised that this needed to be reported, and I did so," Burnham said. "I handled it in the right way. All politicians are receiving these pressures and these challenges, but I did everything right. There was a minimal exchange of information of zero consequence, and it was quickly reported."
Burnham also confirmed that appropriate action has been taken in both the U.S. and the UK to investigate the impersonation.
Professor Anthony Glees, a security and intelligence expert from the University of Buckingham, described the situation as "very serious" and "no laughing matter." He noted that Burnham's exchanges with the purported chief of staff, occurring both before and after assuming the premiership, were significant given the potential for substantive discussions.
This incident follows previous security breaches involving Susie Wiles. In May, her phone was hacked, and an impersonator used her contacts to message other U.S. officials. AI was reportedly used to mimic her voice in calls with prominent Republicans. In 2024, Wiles was also targeted by a cyber espionage unit linked to Iran's Revolutionary Guards.
Representatives for Lammy and Downing Street have declined to comment on the matter.