The Metropolitan Police has announced it will reassess the investigation into the theft of a mobile phone belonging to Morgan McSweeney, Sir Keir Starmer's former chief of staff, after admitting a significant administrative error. Officers incorrectly recorded the location of the crime when the theft was reported last October, an error that has now prompted a fresh review of the case.
Address Blunder Forces Police Rethink
Mr McSweeney reported his device had been snatched in central London in October of last year, but the Metropolitan Police mistakenly logged the incident as occurring on Belgrave Street in Tower Hamlets. In reality, the correct location should have been recorded as Belgrave Road in Pimlico, Westminster. This discrepancy was only identified recently when police responded to a media inquiry about the case.
A Met Police spokesperson confirmed the oversight, stating: "In the course of responding to a recent media inquiry, we became aware that the address was entered incorrectly at the time of the initial call and should instead have been recorded as Belgrave Road, Pimlico." The force has now committed to amending the report and revisiting the assessment of available evidence.
Investigation Previously Closed
Initially, the police investigation into the phone theft was closed after a review, including checks for potential CCTV footage, "did not identify any realistic lines of inquiry." However, the discovery of the address error has led to a decision to reopen the case. Police will now reassess whether there is any evidence that could be pursued, potentially including overlooked surveillance or witness accounts due to the location mistake.
Concerns Over Lost Messages
The reassessment comes amid heightened concerns that critical messages between Mr McSweeney and Lord Peter Mandelson may have been lost with the stolen device. These communications are of particular interest as they relate to Lord Mandelson's controversial appointment as US ambassador, despite his known links to the convicted paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.
Communications between ministers and Lord Mandelson are scheduled to be published in an effort to clarify the circumstances surrounding his ambassadorial appointment. Mr McSweeney, who reportedly advocated for Lord Mandelson's selection, resigned from his role as Sir Keir Starmer's chief of staff earlier this year over his involvement in the decision.
Political Fallout and Allegations
The theft of the phone has sparked political controversy, with Conservative figures alleging a potential cover-up. Tory frontbencher Alex Burghart remarked: "We had to drag the Mandelson files out of Keir Starmer and now we find the phone of his former chief of staff and protege of Mandelson won't be part of the disclosure. The whole thing stinks of a cover-up."
Despite the loss of the physical device, it is understood that the Cabinet Office retains some of the messages exchanged between Mr McSweeney and Lord Mandelson. A government spokesperson previously emphasized compliance with disclosure requests while supporting the police investigation.
Broader Context of the Case
Lord Mandelson was arrested on 23 February on suspicion of misconduct in public office, accused of passing sensitive information to Jeffrey Epstein during his tenure as business secretary. Sir Keir Starmer has publicly expressed regret for believing Lord Mandelson's "lies" regarding his connection to Epstein and for appointing him to the prestigious role in Washington. The Prime Minister has also issued a direct apology to Epstein's victims for the decision.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed that a man in his forties reported his phone being snatched, and the case is now under review following the administrative error. This development underscores the ongoing scrutiny of high-profile political appointments and the transparency of governmental communications.
