Voting by the UK’s Conservative Celebration members for his or her management place and the prime minister’s submit has been delayed after an intelligence company warned that cyber hackers may change ballots, The Telegraph reported on Tuesday.

The UK’s Authorities Communications Headquarters gave the warning.

The Conservative Celebration members had been knowledgeable in regards to the delay in voting on Tuesday night time. Nonetheless, no purpose was given for the safety issues.

“Your poll is now on the best way – however it would arrive with you a bit of later than we initially stated,” learn part of the message to get together members, based on The Telegraph. “Please don’t worry. It’s because we’ve got taken a while so as to add some further safety to our poll course of, which has delayed us barely.”

The ballots had been earlier as a result of be issued from Monday. Now with the delay in voting, members have been instructed to tell the get together in case their ballots don’t arrive even by August 11.

An unidentified spokesperson for the Nationwide Cyber Safety Centre, which is a part of the Authorities Communications Headquarters, confirmed the delay within the vote to Reuters.

“Defending UK democratic and electoral processes is a precedence for the NCSC and we work intently with all Parliamentary political events, native authorities and MPs to supply cyber safety steerage and help,” the spokesperson stated. “As you’ll count on from the UK’s nationwide cyber safety authority we supplied recommendation to the Conservative Celebration on safety concerns for on-line management voting.”

The vote turned obligatory after Boris Johnson introduced his resignation as prime minister on July 7.

On June 6, a no-confidence movement was launched in opposition to Johnson after 54 Conservative Celebration MPs demanded that he resign. They denounced the events organised by Johnson and his employees members throughout lockdowns imposed to include the unfold of coronavirus. The controversy has been famously described because the partygate scandal.

Former British Finance Minister Rishi Sunak and International Secretary Liz Truss are contesting the election to change into the Conservative Celebration’s subsequent chief and the nation’s prime minister.

Within the fifth spherical of voting held in mid-July, Sunak, the previous chancellor of the exchequer, acquired 137 votes whereas Truss acquired the help of 113 MPs.

In response to opinion polls amongst get together members, nonetheless, Truss is within the lead, Reuters reported.

The winner might be introduced on September 5.