Starmer Struggles to Quell Mandelson 'Cover-Up' Crisis Over Missing Phone Messages
Prime Minister Keir Starmer is facing a mounting political crisis today as he attempts to address allegations of a cover-up involving missing messages from a top aide's phone. The controversy centres on the disappearance of a device belonging to Morgan McSweeney, the former No10 chief of staff, which is believed to contain hundreds of private exchanges with Lord Mandelson.
Disputed Theft Account and Political Backlash
Sir Keir has insisted it is "far-fetched" to suggest that Mr McSweeney pretended his phone was stolen in October to avoid disclosing these messages. However, the situation has escalated rapidly, with one of his own MPs openly stating they do not "believe" the aide's account. The Conservative Party has condemned the episode, declaring it "stinks to high heaven" and demanding that Mr McSweeney give evidence to Parliament.
The missing phone is thought to hold crucial communications exchanged with Lord Mandelson both before and after his appointment as US ambassador. This comes amid parliamentary orders for the release of all material related to Mandelson's seven-month tenure, following public anger over his ignored friendship with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
Police Investigation and Security Concerns
Police confirmed yesterday that Mr McSweeney reported his phone stolen on October 21 last year. In a 999 call transcript released by Scotland Yard, he described the theft by a black man on a bicycle, claiming he gave chase and noting it was a "government phone." Notably, he did not reveal his role as the PM's chief of staff or the sensitive nature of the device's contents.
CCTV footage was not reviewed due to a mix-up over the street name, and police have pushed back against claims that they were "too busy" to investigate. They suggested that without Mr McSweeney identifying himself, potential "security risks" could not have influenced their handling of the case. Officers attempted to contact him twice the following day without success.
Internal Criticism and Unanswered Questions
Labour MP Karl Turner, an increasingly vocal critic of Sir Keir, posted on social media: "I don't believe McSwindle had his iPhone stolen." He added that the omission of Mr McSweeney's position was significant if he wanted police to prioritise the offence. Independent MP Rosie Duffield echoed scepticism, stating she has yet to meet anyone in Westminster who believes the phone mysteriously went missing.
At Prime Minister's Questions, Kemi Badenoch raised the issue, quipping: "I wonder what a director of public prosecutions would make of the defence, 'sorry, I can't produce my WhatsApps, my phone's been stolen.'" Downing Street has refused to confirm whether any messages have been recovered or could be retrieved from Mandelson's phone, though the Cabinet Office is understood to hold some exchanges for future publication.
Security Measures and Ongoing Fallout
No10 stated the theft was immediately reported to Downing Street's security department, which remotely wiped the phone's contents. However, officials could not say if attempts were made to track the device or discuss it with police. Despite Mr McSweeney's high profile, there appears to have been no effort to determine if the theft was random or a targeted act by a hostile state.
Mr McSweeney resigned last month, taking responsibility for Mandelson's appointment. Documents released in response to the parliamentary order show Sir Keir did not personally speak to Mandelson beforehand, delegating questions about Epstein ties to aides. The next batch of documents is expected next month, keeping the crisis alive.
Speaking in Helsinki, Sir Keir reiterated: "The phone was stolen. It was reported to the police. There's a transcript of the call... and the idea that everybody could have seen a future request is, to my mind, a little bit far-fetched." Yet, with MPs from across the spectrum questioning the narrative, the Prime Minister faces a tough battle to restore credibility.
