Fears were raised today that Boris Johnson is at risk of hacking by Russia or China after the revelation that his mobile number has been freely available online for 15 years.
Former UK national security adviser Lord Ricketts is among those warning of the threat from hostile states after the PM s personal number was highlighted by a popular gossip site.
Downing Street refused to say whether Mr Johnson will now be changing the number. There were claims earlier this month that Cabinet Secretary Simon Case had advised him to switch following concerns over the ease with which lobbyists and others from the business world were able to contact him.
Boris Johnson s mobile number is available online and has been for 15 years, it emerged tonight.
Popular gossip newsletter Popbitch gave its readers clues on how to find the Prime Minister s number, pointing them to a press release from his time as MP for Henley in 2006.
The number, which the PM hasn t changed in the 15 years since, is written on the bottom of the press release.
It comes just days after it was revealed that Mr Johnson refused to change his number, despite concerns that he was constantly being approached for help because it is so widely known.
Cabinet Secretary Simon Case is said to have raised the issue with the PM last year, telling him he was being asked for help by MPs, lobbyists and others in the business world so often because his number was too widely known.
Sir Keir Starmer today trolled Boris Johnson by sampling wallpaper at John Lewis as he gently fanned the flames of the Downing Street flat row.
The Labour leader was seen picking out wallpaper at the department store s Manchester site, in a subtle dig at his Conservative adversary.
It comes as an incensed Mr Johnson furiously defended himself at yesterday s Prime Minister s Questions over the Wallpapergate row - in which he is accused of using £58,000 of Tory funds for a lavish refurbishment of his Downing Street flat.
Yesterday a clearly rattled Mr Johnson used Downing Street to insist he paid for the renovations himself and had abided by the ministerial code.