TATTON'S new MP has asked for her constituents to remain patient as she battles the recent Westminster cyber attack.

Esther McVey has been unable to access her emails over the weekend, after defensive measures aimed at halting the leak meant MPs could not get onto the parliament network remotely.

Ms McVey said: "For the next few weeks I'm hot-desking and working alone from the canteen, ploughing through the 3,000 emails I've received so far.

"Each new recruit has to be thoroughly checked before they can work in Parliament and for an MP.

"This has also been hampered by the continuing cyber attacks on parliament resulting latterly in no emails for 3 days. Some may have been lost so please bear with us."

A parliamentary spokesman said: "We have discovered unauthorised attempts to access accounts of parliamentary networks users and are investigating this ongoing incident, working closely with the National Cyber Security Centre.

"Parliament has robust measures in place to protect all of our accounts and systems, and we are taking the necessary steps to protect and secure our network.

"As a precaution we have temporarily restricted remote access to the network. As a result, some Members of Parliament and staff cannot access their email accounts outside of Westminster.

"IT services on the parliamentary estate are working normally. We will continue to keep members of both Houses of Parliament and the public updated as the situation develops."

Around 90 email accounts are believed to have been targeted.

Ms McVey added that she was in the process of setting up an MP's office in Wilmslow, with a view to opening by the end of July.

She said: "The first few weeks after being elected a new MP are quite surreal.

"Week three and new MPs still don't have an office in parliament due in part to MPs who lost their seat being allowed time to close their offices and help their staff find alternative work.

"Security vetting is incredibly tight, particularly in light of recents incidents and the increased threats and online intimidation, which means staff clearance hasn't been granted yet."

"The good news is I've taken this opportunity to find a new MP's office in Wilmslow - the old association office will still remain in Knutsford, but as the MP I will have a separate office.

"The office has to be security checked too by parliament but it looks as if it will opened by the end of July, I'll keep you up to date with that - and going forward if any young politics students would like to do work experience then we can look to do that too.

"And I've already started holding surgeries around the constituency as well as local 'meet and greets', so taking full advantage of not having any offices yet."