Private phone numbers of three British ministers, including the Defence Secretary, appear online

Politico has reported that the personal mobile phone numbers of three British ministers, including Defence Secretary Wes Streeting, were published online alongside their names.

While checking a list of members of the British Cabinet, the online media outlet identified three telephone numbers. In addition to Streeting’s, the list also included the number of Justice Secretary Alex Norris and that of Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Bryant.

The report says that the numbers have been removed from the internet or are expected to be deleted soon.

The case came to light shortly after Politico reported that Prime Minister Andy Burnham had been targeted in a text-message scam. He had exchanged messages with an unknown person posing as Susie Wiles, the White House chief of staff.

After becoming suspicious about the authenticity of the communication, the British prime minister ended the conversation. Downing Street confirmed that the two parties had exchanged only “a few insignificant messages”.

It remains unclear how the person claiming to be Wiles managed to obtain Burnham’s private phone number.

To carry out their official responsibilities, British ministers are provided with phones and secure communication systems, particularly those holding sensitive positions such as the Defence Secretary. The use of these devices is mandatory for matters related to their duties, while personal numbers must not be used for official communications.