Pressure Mounts on Starmer's Former Chief of Staff to Testify Over Missing Phone
Kemi Badenoch has intensified demands for Morgan McSweeney, Sir Keir Starmer's former chief of staff, to provide parliamentary testimony regarding the theft of his government-issued mobile device. The phone reportedly contained explosive messages exchanged with Lord Peter Mandelson, whose controversial appointment as US ambassador has sparked significant political scrutiny.
Police Investigation Reopened After Initial Errors
The Metropolitan Police confirmed on Wednesday that McSweeney reported his phone stolen in October last year, just days after Labour officials allegedly warned him about potential consequences if his communications with Lord Mandelson were ever disclosed. In an unusual move, police released the transcript of McSweeney's 999 call from October 21, in which he described the theft by a black man on a bicycle and mentioned giving chase.
Critical details emerged from the police statement: McSweeney identified the device as a "government phone" but failed to disclose his senior Downing Street position or the sensitive nature of its contents. Police refuted claims from McSweeney's allies that they were "too busy" to investigate, revealing they attempted to contact him twice the following day without response.
Due to an address mix-up provided by McSweeney, officers initially examined CCTV footage from the wrong London location. The investigation has now been formally reopened amid growing political pressure.
Missing Communications and Parliamentary Demands
The stolen device is believed to contain hundreds of messages exchanged with Lord Mandelson both before and after his controversial diplomatic appointment. Parliament has formally demanded the release of all communications related to Mandelson's seven-month tenure, including McSweeney's emails and WhatsApp messages.
Downing Street has refused to confirm whether any messages have been recovered or could be retrieved from Lord Mandelson's own device. Special advisers and ministers are required to report significant government-related communications for proper record-keeping, but Number 10 declined to confirm whether McSweeney followed this guidance.
The Prime Minister's spokesman stated: 'Individuals are responsible for deciding how the rules apply to each communication using their professional judgment and considering the context.'
Badenoch's Call for Transparency
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch declared it was time to "end the cover up" surrounding the disgraced peer, whom Starmer appointed despite warnings about his "particularly close" relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
"There are too many unanswered questions surrounding the disappearance of Morgan McSweeney's phone," Badenoch asserted. "Parliament has demanded the government release all of its communications with Peter Mandelson. It would be outrageous if the messages between Mandelson and the Prime Minister's former Chief of Staff were not included."
She continued: "If Number 10 are incapable of recovering these messages, it is only right that Morgan McSweeney testifies in Parliament and explains exactly what happened and why Keir Starmer signed off on Peter Mandelson's appointment despite the warnings."
Unanswered Security Questions
The phone's disappearance has raised serious security concerns. Downing Street confirmed the theft was immediately reported to security officials who remotely wiped the device, but officials could not confirm whether tracking attempts were made or whether police were consulted about the investigation.
Despite McSweeney's high-profile position, no assessment appears to have been conducted regarding whether this was a random theft or a potential targeting by hostile state actors. The missing communications gap comes as documents confirmed Sir Keir was informed that Mandelson maintained friendship with Epstein for years after his conviction, even staying at his New York mansion while Epstein was imprisoned.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting characterized the situation as a "cock-up rather than conspiracy," while Downing Street emphasized the theft occurred "months before" MPs compelled the government to release Mandelson-related files. However, The Spectator magazine reported last month that Labour officials had warned McSweeney about parliamentary demands for his messages just days before the device went missing.
The controversy continues as Parliament seeks full transparency about the appointment process that saw Starmer delegate the Mandelson vetting to his chief of staff, who asked just three questions about the relationship with Epstein before proceeding with the controversial diplomatic appointment.
