Police revisit investigation into theft of Morgan McSweeney’s phone
Police are re-examining the circumstances surrounding the theft of Morgan McSweeney’s phone, which was taken by a bike thief in a balaclava, amid criticism of their initial handling of the case, reports BritPanorama.
McSweeney, who previously served as chief of staff to Sir Keir Starmer, reported the crime to Scotland Yard after failing to catch the thief. Following the initial investigation’s closure, the case is now being revisited by police.
The theft, which occurred on October 20, coincided with heightened scrutiny of McSweeney’s communications, primarily due to his connections with the recently dismissed US ambassador, Lord Peter Mandelson. Concerns have emerged that messages between McSweeney and Mandelson could be permanently lost.
The Cabinet Office is currently in the process of collecting tens of thousands of messages exchanged between Mandelson and various government officials, prompted by a mandate from Members of Parliament.
Critics from the Conservative Party and the Reform Party have suggested that the theft may have been a strategy to evade revealing these communications. Reports indicate that McSweeney was assigned a crime reference number after the theft; however, the investigation was halted due to police claiming to be “too busy”.
McSweeney received a new phone with the same number just one day after the incident. The Metropolitan Police have since acknowledged an error regarding the location of the theft, which was initially recorded as taking place on Belgrave Street in Tower Hamlets instead of the correct location on Belgrave Road in Westminster.
A spokesperson for the force stated, “On Monday, October 20, police received a report from a man in his 40s alleging that his phone had been snatched. The incident was recorded as having taken place in Belgrave Street, E1. A review of the allegation did not reveal any viable lines of inquiry, leading to the investigation’s closure.” They added that due to a media inquiry, they identified the address error and will now reassess the available evidence.
Earlier this year, McSweeney resigned from his position following pressures from Labour MPs related to the Mandelson affair, where his association with figures such as Jeffrey Epstein was a notable point of concern. Downing Street is set to release a further batch of communications between Mandelson and other staff members after Easter.
The unfolding situation underscores significant tensions within UK political circles, as the interplay between personal communication and public accountability continues to provoke debate.
