British political parties ask GCHQ for advice on preventing cyber-attacks

Ciaran Martin, head of UK National Cyber Security Centre, says he expects formal requests for help with digital security

British political parties have approached the surveillance agency GCHQ for advice on beefing up their internet security after a cyber-attack during the 2015 UK general election and the hacking in the US last year of the Democratic party.

Ciaran Martin, head of the UK's National Cyber Security Centre, which is part of GCHQ and was officially opened on Tuesday, confirmed informal contact had been made by the parties and that he expected to be asked formally to provide advice on how to increase their digital security.