Lord Mandelson to Provide Personal Phone Messages in Epstein-Linked Files Disclosure
The Cabinet Office is developing an information-gathering strategy that will formally request former Labour grandee Lord Peter Mandelson to supply messages from his personal mobile device. This move is part of the compelled release of documents related to his controversial appointment as Sir Keir Starmer’s ambassador to the United States, a role from which he was dismissed last September due to his associations with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
Concerns Over Lost Correspondence Following Phone Theft
Significant concerns have emerged that crucial exchanges regarding Lord Mandelson’s appointment may have been permanently lost. This follows the theft of former Number 10 chief of staff Morgan McSweeney’s government-issued mobile phone in October 2025, which was not backed up. The incident has raised alarms about potential gaps in the historical record, particularly as MPs moved in February to force the publication of tens of thousands of documents. These documents aim to clarify how much was known about Lord Mandelson’s links to Epstein before he was handed the prestigious Washington diplomatic posting.
Whitehall sources confirm that the Cabinet Office’s plan includes asking Lord Mandelson to provide all relevant information within the scope of the humble address used to compel correspondence release. They emphasise that requesting data from his personal phone was always part of this strategy, countering reports that the Cabinet Office had not yet made such a request and was instead attempting to reconstruct correspondence by asking ministers and officials for their records.
Political Fallout and Police Investigation Errors
The first batch of documents related to the appointment decision was published earlier this month following parliamentary demands for transparency, with more expected to follow. Mr McSweeney, who many blame for pushing Lord Mandelson’s appointment, resigned from Downing Street last month. The Prime Minister has dismissed suggestions that the phone theft is linked to the file releases as "far-fetched," with Downing Street noting the theft occurred months before the Commons motion compelling the government to act.
In a unusual development, police have released a transcript of Mr McSweeney’s 999 call reporting the theft. During the call, he provided his name, a personal email address, a home address outside London, and confirmed the device was a government phone. However, he incorrectly stated his location as Belgrave Street instead of Belgrave Road, leading the Metropolitan Police to wrongly record the theft as occurring in east London rather than Westminster. This error caused officers to check incorrect CCTV footage and initially conclude there were no viable lines of inquiry, a decision now under review.
Prime Minister’s Regret and Ongoing Scrutiny
Sir Keir Starmer has publicly expressed regret over the appointment, telling Sky News’s Electoral Dysfunction podcast that he "dwells" on the mistake of appointing Lord Mandelson to Britain’s top diplomatic role abroad despite his association with Epstein. The Prime Minister stated, "Nobody has been harder on me in relation to the mistake I made there than me," and added, "It’s certainly not a mistake I’d ever repeat." This admission underscores the ongoing political and ethical scrutiny surrounding the case, as the government works to ensure full disclosure and address transparency concerns raised by MPs and the public.
