Newly installed British Prime Minister Andy Burnham acknowledged exchanging text messages with an individual who falsely claimed to be White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, according to a source familiar with the episode. The contact, which involved several messages of “no significance,” was cut off once Burnham grew suspicious, the source told The Hill.
The incident, first reported by Politico, did not include any phone conversations. It remains unclear when the exchanges happened or what the messages contained. The source, who was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly, emphasized that the communications were benign.
Burnham took over from Keir Starmer last month after winning the Labour Party leadership race unopposed. He has moved quickly to build relationships in Washington, part of a broader effort to solidify ties with the Biden administration, as noted by The Spectator. That diplomatic push makes the impersonation attempt particularly notable, though officials stress it was not a serious security breach.
Wiles herself was the target of a separate hacking incident last year, when her personal phone was compromised, prompting an FBI investigation. A White House official told The Hill that the Burnham impersonation “had nothing to do with the Chief of Staff’s devices being hacked.”
The British Embassy in Washington declined to comment, saying it does not discuss national security matters. The episode comes as Burnham navigates a delicate period in UK-US relations, with some analysts suggesting his approach may signal a cooler transatlantic alliance than under his predecessor.
Political observers note that foreign leaders are frequently targeted by impersonators, but the involvement of a senior White House figure raises questions about vetting procedures. “It’s a reminder that even top officials need to verify identities,” said one diplomatic security expert, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The development adds to a series of challenges facing Burnham, including internal Labour Party dynamics and a contentious policy agenda. His team has not released further details, and it remains unclear whether any disciplinary action or security review is underway.
For now, the White House has not commented beyond the official’s denial of any link to Wiles’s earlier hack. The FBI’s investigation into that breach continues, but authorities have not indicated any connection to the UK incident.
