Kemi Badenoch, newly elected leader of the Conservative Party, once admitted to hacking and altering a Labour MP’s website. The revelation resurfaced as Badenoch became the new Tory leader, reminding the public of the incident.
A Foolish Prank
When asked about the “naughtiest” thing she had ever done, Badenoch, now 38, said: “About 10 years ago, I hacked into a Labour MP’s website and changed all the content to say nice things about the Tories. It was a foolish prank over a decade ago, for which I apologise.”
Apology Accepted by Harriet Harman
Badenoch did not initially name the MP, but former cabinet minister Harriet Harman later confirmed she was the target. Harman tweeted: “@KemiBadenoch has written to me apologising. I have accepted her apology.” Badenoch then retweeted Harman’s post.
The 2008 Incident
In 2008, reports emerged that Harman’s personal website had been hacked. One post suggested she was defecting to the Conservative Party. Another encouraged Londoners to support Boris Johnson’s mayoral campaign.
Legal Implications
Under the Computer Misuse Act 1990, unauthorised access to computer material is a criminal offence. Convictions can lead to up to two years in prison and/or a fine.
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