Starmer Under Fire as Mandelson Messages Lost on Stolen Government Phone
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer is confronting renewed scrutiny today over missing communications between a key aide and former New Labour architect Peter Mandelson. The controversy centres on a stolen government mobile phone belonging to top adviser Morgan McSweeney, which contained messages intended for parliamentary publication regarding Mandelson's appointment as US ambassador.
Cabinet Minister Admits 'Cock-Up' in Message Loss
Cabinet minister Wes Streeting has openly acknowledged that the disappearance of these exchanges represents what he termed a "cock-up" rather than any deliberate concealment. Streeting firmly dismissed allegations of a cover-up during broadcast interviews, emphasising that McSweeney promptly reported the theft to authorities last October and could not have anticipated that Parliament would later demand the messages' release.
"I can completely understand the cynicism in these sorts of cases," Streeting told Times Radio. "But do bear in mind that when his phone was stolen, it was reported to the police at the time. He couldn't at that stage have known that Parliament would ask for the publication of all messages in the way that they have in quite an unprecedented manner."
Police Investigation Closed Without Follow-Up
The Metropolitan Police confirmed that a man in his forties reported his device stolen in central London on October 20th. However, the force misrecorded the location as Belgrave Street in Tower Hamlets instead of the correct Belgrave Road in Westminster. Police stated that a review of the allegation, including potential CCTV evidence, "did not identify any realistic lines of inquiry," leading to the investigation's closure.
This administrative error was only identified while responding to media inquiries, prompting police to amend their records and reassess whether any evidence might now be available. The stolen phone was reportedly wiped remotely and replaced with another device the following day, though the Cabinet Office maintains some record of the McSweeney-Mandelson exchanges.
Transparency Demands Following Epstein Revelations
Sir Keir was compelled to order transparency last month following a revolt by MPs angered that Mandelson's longstanding friendship with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein had been overlooked during his ambassadorial vetting. The Labour leader has admitted that "it was me that made the mistake" and apologised to Epstein's victims.
Mandelson was appointed US ambassador in December 2024, with a three-page due diligence report supplied to Starmer on December 11th that year flagging the connections between Mandelson and Epstein. Starmer did not personally question Mandelson about these ties, instead delegating this responsibility to aides.
Government Protocol Questions Raised
Concerns have emerged that McSweeney's phone was not properly backed up despite government guidance requiring senior officials to forward or screenshot messages to official systems. Officials are responsible for protecting personal data from "accidental loss," raising questions about compliance with established protocols.
Streeting acknowledged these concerns, stating: "I suspect that off the back of this, there will be a reiteration of the expectations on ministers, special advisers and officials so that people are clear on the rules and expectations. People will want to tighten up on those fronts, inevitably."
Mandelson's Legal Situation and McSweeney's Departure
Lord Mandelson was arrested on February 23rd on suspicion of misconduct in public office, accused of passing sensitive information to Epstein during his tenure as business secretary under Gordon Brown. He was subsequently bailed, later had his passport returned, and remains under investigation while denying any criminal wrongdoing or personal gain.
Morgan McSweeney resigned from Downing Street last month, accepting full responsibility for Mandelson's appointment. His phone was stolen in October, the same month Mandelson was removed from his Washington diplomatic role. Another batch of papers related to the appointment is expected within weeks as parliamentary scrutiny continues.
Streeting has already published his own messages with Mandelson, frustrating some colleagues, and revealed he uses WhatsApp's disappearing messages function while ensuring information is relayed to the Department of Health and Social Care. "We also publish transparency returns in terms of the meetings that we have, including meetings with journalists," he added. "There are standards of transparency and accountability. Those things matter."
The Prime Minister narrowly avoided being ousted last month amid widespread anger about the affair, highlighting the ongoing political sensitivity surrounding these lost communications and the broader questions about transparency and due diligence in government appointments.
