UK prime ministerial elections delayed amid fears of 'cyber hacking' of ballots

The elections for the next United Kingdom prime minister were delayed after national security officials warned of cyber hackers attempting to change people's ballots, sources reported. 

While no nation state or malicious actor has been specifically identified, the publication reported that fears were raised that nefarious actors could change the votes of scores of party members, causing chaos to the democratic process.

Former UK Chancellor Rishi Sunak is closing the gap to catch up with rival, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, in the race to 10 Downing Street, with only five points separating the two in a latest poll of the Conservative Party members on Tuesday.

The data tables for a survey of 807 Conservative members, conducted by Italian public affairs company Techne for a private client and concluded last week, show Sunak at 43 per cent, Truss at 48 per cent while 9 per cent undecided in the election to replace Boris Johnson as Tory leader and British prime minister.

It is in sharp contrast to a YouGov survey carried out at the end of the knockout stages last month, which suggested that Truss had a 24-point lead over the 42-year-old British Indian former minister.

The survey asked Tory members their views on the two finalists and their policy plans. It found that on most issues Truss, 47, was ahead of Sunak among party members and voters who supported the Tories in 2019.

However, Sunak led Truss on being qualified to be prime minister by 10 points, 52 per cent to 42 per cent, and being authoritative, 51 per cent to 43 per cent.