Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has firmly rejected any connection between the theft of his former chief of staff's mobile phone and the subsequent release of sensitive files concerning Lord Peter Mandelson's appointment as British ambassador to the United States. Speaking to broadcasters in Helsinki, Sir Keir described the suggestion as "a little bit far-fetched," insisting the incident was a straightforward criminal act reported to police at the time.
Details of the Phone Theft Incident
The mobile phone belonging to Morgan McSweeney, who served as Sir Keir's chief of staff, was snatched in London in October 2025. There are now significant concerns that valuable exchanges related to Lord Mandelson's controversial ambassadorial appointment may have been lost as a result, particularly since the device was not backed up. The Prime Minister emphasised that the theft was properly reported, with a transcript of the 999 call confirming Mr McSweeney provided his name, date of birth, and phone details.
Police Investigation and Errors
In an unusual move, the Metropolitan Police released a transcript of Mr McSweeney's emergency call. During the call, he mistakenly gave his location as Belgrave Street instead of Belgrave Road, leading officers to check incorrect CCTV footage in east London rather than Westminster. This error resulted in police concluding there were no viable lines of inquiry, though the case is now under review. The transcript also reveals Mr McSweeney disclosed a personal email address and a home address outside London, while noting the device was a Government phone he had asked his office to track.
Political Context and Mandelson's Appointment
Lord Mandelson, a political appointee rather than a career diplomat, was dismissed from his Washington role in September last year due to his associations with paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein, who died in 2019. In February, MPs compelled the Government to release tens of thousands of documents regarding the peer's appointment, amid questions about what was known of his Epstein links beforehand. The first batch of these files was published earlier this month, with more expected to follow.
Downing Street's Position and Internal Reactions
Downing Street has been keen to highlight that the phone theft occurred "months before" MPs forced the document release, aiming to distance the two events. Health Secretary Wes Streeting has characterised the loss of messages as a "cock-up rather than conspiracy," echoing the Prime Minister's dismissal of more sinister interpretations. Mr McSweeney resigned from Downing Street last month, with many attributing blame to him for pushing Lord Mandelson's appointment. However, it is understood that the Cabinet Office retains some messages between Mr McSweeney and Lord Mandelson, potentially mitigating the loss.
The Prime Minister reiterated his stance, stating, "The phone was stolen. It was reported to the police. There's a transcript of the call in which Morgan McSweeney gives his name, his date of birth, the details of the phone, and the police confirm that it was reported. Unfortunately, there are thefts like this. It was stolen. It was reported at the time, the police have acknowledged and confirmed that. That is what happened." He added that the notion of foresight regarding future document requests was implausible, reinforcing his view that the theft was an isolated criminal incident unrelated to political manoeuvring.
