Russian hackers 'stole secret UK-US trade negotiation papers'

Hackers accessed Liam Fox's email account. Credit: PA

Russian hackers are suspected of breaking in to former trade secretary Liam Fox’s email account to steal classified UK-US trade documents that were leaked in the run-up to the last general election, it has been reported.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has previously accused “Russian actors” of seeking to influence the vote by “amplifying” the stolen papers online.

They were highlighted by then Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn who said the papers were evidence the Conservatives were preparing to sell the NHS to US pharmaceutical companies.

Jeremy Corbyn referenced the leaked emails in a speech. Credit: PA

Reuters, citing two anonymous sources, reported on Monday that Russian hackers are suspected of accessing Dr Fox’s account multiple times between July 12 and October 21 last year.

The account was said to have been the victim of a “spear phishing” message - where users are tricked into handing over their log-in details and password.

The Cabinet Office declined to comment because of the criminal investigation being led by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC).

It instead defended the government’s IT systems.

“There is an ongoing criminal investigation into how the documents were acquired, and it would be inappropriate to comment further at this point,” a government spokeswoman said.

“But as you would expect, the government has very robust systems in place to protect the IT systems of officials and staff.”

The Intelligence and Security Committee published its much-delayed report into Russian interference in British democracy this week Credit: Kirsty O’Connor/PA

The spokeswoman did not answer questions on whether hackers had accessed a government or personal email account, while an aide to Dr Fox declined to comment.

An NCSC spokesman said: “We have worked closely with political parties for several years on how to protect and defend against cyber attacks – including publishing advice on our website.

“There is an ongoing criminal investigation and it would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage.”

The document appeared online months before the election but received little attention before Mr Corbyn highlighted it at a press conference in November.

He has said it is a “bogus claim” that Labour received any Russian support while the nation denies it has interfered in any UK election.