The Cabinet Office is understood to retain a number of text and email exchanges between Peter Mandelson and Morgan McSweeney, despite the theft of the former chief of staff's phone in October last year. The messages are expected to be publicly released within weeks as part of the Mandelson files, following a parliamentary motion forcing disclosure.
The whereabouts of McSweeney's correspondence with Mandelson has been under intense scrutiny since it was reported his work device was stolen shortly after Mandelson was sacked as US ambassador. On Tuesday, the Metropolitan Police released the full transcript of the 999 call made by McSweeney after the theft, in a highly unorthodox move it said was intended to correct misreporting.
The transcript reveals that McSweeney did not disclose he was Keir Starmer's chief of staff when reporting the theft. He told police it was a government phone and that it had a tracker, but did not explain the sensitivity of its contents. The Met admitted recording the wrong address for the theft, leading to a review of CCTV at an incorrect location.
Downing Street confirmed that McSweeney separately reported the theft to government security teams on the same day. Officials declined to confirm whether he had properly backed up his messages, stating only that long-established processes for managing information security exist. The spokesperson said government officials are obliged to record or back up relevant information, such as WhatsApp messages, that relate to substantive discussions or decisions.
The Met has now reopened the investigation into the theft, which was previously closed. The force said two attempts were made to follow up with McSweeney, who did not answer during office hours, and that CCTV was examined at the wrong location. The transcript shows McSweeney reported the theft in Westminster, but the call handler later referred to a park near an incorrect address in Tower Hamlets.
