RISHI Sunak said “all security protocols” were followed after revelations that Boris Johnson’s phone number was easily accessible online.

On a visit to Hartlepool this morning, the Treasurer played down fears that the Prime Minister had been made vulnerable after it emerged that his personal contact details had been accessible on the internet for the past 15-years.

Lord Ricketts, the UK’s first national security adviser, said the disclosure could mean “thousands” of people have Mr Johnson’s mobile number, putting him at “increased risk”.

But speaking from the Northern School of Art in Hartlepool this morning, Mr Sunak said: “As far as I’m aware, all security protocols have been followed.

“Part of what makes the Prime Minister special is that he is an incredibly approachable individual.

“You see it wherever he is out and about – people feel they can relate to him, they can talk to him, they can tell him what’s on their mind and that's important as politicians for us to be able to hear that and then actually deliver on it.”

It emerged on Thursday that Mr Johnson’s contact number was still listed this year at the bottom of a 2006 press release dating back to when he was shadow higher education minister.

It follows a row in recent weeks over so-called Government-by-text after it emerged that lobbyists and others from the business world had personally messaged the Prime Minister in a bid to get him to intervene in issues.

Mr Sunak said that talking to people in Hartlepool today, 'not a single person' had brought up the issue of Boris Johnson's mobile phone number.

He added: "But what they have brought up are jobs, opportunity, talking about the new Freeport down the road or this fantastic creative industry institution here.

"And the young people are just full of hope about the future because of the things that the government is doing for them and that is fantastic."