Metropolitan Police Reopen Investigation Into Stolen Phone of Former Starmer Aide
The Metropolitan Police have announced they are revisiting a previously closed investigation into the theft of a mobile phone belonging to Morgan McSweeney, Sir Keir Starmer's former chief of staff, after admitting to a significant administrative error. The force confirmed on Tuesday that they incorrectly recorded the location of the incident, which occurred in central London last October, leading to a reassessment of available evidence.
Address Recording Error Forces Case Review
Police revealed that during the initial response to the theft report, the incident was logged as taking place on Belgrave Street in Tower Hamlets, rather than the correct location of Belgrave Road in Westminster's Pimlico area. This error was only discovered recently when responding to media inquiries about the case. A Metropolitan Police spokesperson stated that the report will now be amended and the assessment of whether there is available evidence will be revisited.
The original investigation, which included consideration of potential CCTV footage, concluded without identifying any realistic lines of inquiry and was subsequently closed. However, the discovery of the address recording mistake has prompted police to reopen their examination of the case.
Potential Significance of Lost Communications
The stolen device has gained particular attention due to reports that it may have contained messages relevant to Lord Peter Mandelson's potential appointment as British ambassador to the United States. The Sun newspaper highlighted concerns that communications about this sensitive diplomatic posting could have been lost when the phone was snatched.
This development comes amid ongoing parliamentary scrutiny of Lord Mandelson's appointment process. MPs have ordered the Government to release tens of thousands of documents relating to how the peer was vetted, particularly regarding questions about his links to convicted paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.
Timeline of Events and Political Context
The theft occurred on October 20 last year when a man in his 40s, confirmed to be McSweeney, reported his phone being snatched in central London. McSweeney resigned from his Downing Street position last month under considerable pressure, with many critics blaming him for pushing Lord Mandelson's controversial appointment.
While the Cabinet Office is understood to possess some messages between McSweeney and Lord Mandelson, the potential loss of additional communications from the stolen device has raised concerns about transparency and accountability in the appointment process.
Police Response and Next Steps
A Metropolitan Police spokesperson provided detailed clarification about their handling of the case:
- The initial report was received on Monday, October 20
- The incident was incorrectly recorded as occurring in Belgrave Street, E1
- An initial review found no realistic lines of inquiry
- The investigation was subsequently closed
- The address error was identified during media inquiry responses
- The correct location should have been Belgrave Road, Pimlico
- The report will be amended and evidence assessment revisited
A Government spokesperson previously stated their commitment to complying with parliamentary requests while continuing to support the Metropolitan Police investigation. The force's decision to reassess the case following the administrative error represents a significant development in what has become a politically sensitive matter involving high-profile figures and diplomatic appointments.
