Cyber-security and UK Democracy

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 3:50 pm on 25 March 2024.

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Photo of David Jones David Jones Conservative, Clwyd West 3:50, 25 March 2024

My right hon. Friend will no doubt be aware that the Electoral Commission failed a National Cyber Security Centre cyber essentials audit at about the time when these breaches occurred. Among the failings identified was the fact that staff laptops and smartphones were running outdated systems—including Windows 10 Enterprise, which, at the time, was no longer receiving security updates. Does my right hon. Friend not agree that these failings look awfully like extraordinary negligence on the part of the Electoral Commission, and how satisfied is he that the commission has done everything necessary to regularise its procedures?