High alert over cyber attack threat
THERESA MAY will refuse to take part in televised leaders’ debates in the run-up to the June 8 general election, Number 10 sources have indicated.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn threw down the gauntlet to the Prime Minister with a direct challenge on Twitter saying: “If this General Election is about leadership, as Theresa May said this morning, she should not be dodging head-to-head TV debates.”
But a Downing Street source indicated that the Prime Minister would flatly reject any proposal for a TV showdown, telling reporters: “Our answer is No.”
Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron accused Mrs May of “bottling” the debates and urged broadcasters to “empty chair” her if she refused to take part. “The Prime Minister’s attempt to dodge scrutiny shows how she holds the public in contempt,” said Mr Farron.
“The British people deserve to see their potential leaders talking about the future of our country.”
Broadcasters have a “moral duty” to stage debates, said the Lib Dem leader.
Cabinet minister David Lidington said voters would be “fascinated” to see the outcome of a head-to-head debate between Mrs May and Mr Corbyn.
Speaking in the Commons, Conservative MP Nigel Evans said many people expect either the current Prime Minister or Labour leader to walk through the door of No 10 post-June 8.
He asked Commons Leader Mr Lidington: “Could you encourage the Prime Minister to go head-tohead in as many TV debates with the leader of the Opposition as possible before June 8?”
Mr Lidington replied: “I suspect the electorate would be fascinated to see the outcome of such a debate.”
A BBC spokesman said that it was too early to say whether the broadcaster would put in a bid to stage a debate. THE UK’S cyber security apparatus will be on high alert during the general election contest amid concerns about foreign interference in democratic contests around the world.
Political parties were offered assistance by GCHQ’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) in March – with the authorities warning that “events in the United States, Germany and elsewhere act as a reminder of the potential for hostile action against the UK political system”.
Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon has previously accused Russia of using “cyber weaponry” to “disable democratic machinery”.
Cyber security expert Ewan Lawson said there was a risk that vulnerabilities in the defences of parties and other democratic institutions could be targeted.
Mr Lawson said the authorities will “absolutely be on high alert” and there could be “some degree of conditioning of public expectation” about the risk of leaks.