Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has dismissed as “far-fetched” suggestions that the theft of his former chief of staff’s mobile phone is linked to a subsequent push for the release of documents concerning Peter Mandelson’s appointment as US ambassador. The government-issue phone belonging to Morgan McSweeney was stolen in Pimlico, central London, on 20 October last year.
Downing Street has faced questions over whether key messages between McSweeney and the former ambassador were lost, as the phone was not backed up. The Metropolitan Police released a transcript of McSweeney’s 999 call, in which he reported the theft and provided his name, date of birth, and phone details.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch’s spokesperson said she had “raised an eyebrow” over the account, while Labour MP Karl Turner expressed disbelief that the phone was stolen. Shadow business secretary Andrew Griffith told GB News: “The whole thing is as smelly as a fish market on a hot summer’s afternoon.”
Helen MacNamara, former deputy cabinet secretary, said McSweeney took the correct steps by contacting the government to request the phone be wiped. However, she noted that Downing Street’s failure to quickly flag the phone’s significance to police had fuelled speculation.
Sir Keir also acknowledged he “beats himself up” over the decision to appoint Lord Mandelson as US ambassador, after documents revealed warnings about the peer’s association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The prime minister told the Electoral Dysfunction podcast: “Nobody has been harder on me in relation to the mistake.”
