Rishi’s rough week gets worse as personal mobile number is leaked online

It is understood that Sunak has used the number for many years, even before his premiership (Picture: REX)

Rishi Sunak’s personal mobile that he has reportedly used for many years has been leaked in what is an embarrassing security breach.

Pranksters targeted the prime minister, who just returned from his whirlwind tourof the Middle East where negotiations are ongoing about the return of hostages in Gaza.

A video that surfaced earlier today shows his phone ringing and his answerphone message responding, the Sun reported.

It is yet unclear how the information was leaked online, and Downing Street said it would not comment on security matters.

The number is the one Sunak has used for many years – including while chancellor and during last year’s leadership election, the newspaper said.

He was reportedly given a new, separate number when he came to power almost a year ago, but it appears his old one is still in operation.

It comes as the politician told the UK Covid-19 Inquiry he was unable to provide WhatsApp messages sent from the number because he failed to back them up.

He claimed had changed phones several times so ‘does not have access’ to them.

This is not the first time that a UK prime minister’s mobile phone number has been leaked online.

Boris Johnson was advised to stop using his personal phone and not access it again on security grounds while in office in May 2021 after it emerged his number had been freely available online for 15 years.

That led to a protracted process to extract his messages for the Covid-19 inquiry, reportedly made more complicated because he forgot his passcode.

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