Sir Keir Starmer has dismissed claims that his former chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, lied about his stolen phone, describing such allegations as “far-fetched”, reports BritPanorama.
The Prime Minister refuted suggestions that McSweeney had intentionally discarded the device to prevent the disclosure of WhatsApp messages with Lord Peter Mandelson.
In October 2025, McSweeney informed police that his phone was snatched in London, leading to concerns about the communication between him and Mandelson never being revealed in associated files. Critics have pointed out that the timing of the theft, occurring just a month after the Labour grandee’s dismissal, appears suspicious.
McSweeney and Mandelson were known to maintain a close rapport, which further fueled doubts about the authenticity of the claim that a robbery had taken place. Labour MP Karl Turner expressed skepticism, stating, “I don’t believe McSwindle had his iPhone stolen.”
In defense of McSweeney, Starmer emphasized that “the phone was stolen” and cited a transcript of McSweeney’s police call detailing the theft. He asserted that the incident was unfortunate, characterizing it as not uncommon in urban contexts. “It was reported at the time, and the police have acknowledged and confirmed that,” he stated.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting referred to the situation as a “cock-up rather than conspiracy” while reiterating the timeline, emphasizing that the theft occurred “months before” MPs compelled Starmer to disclose documents related to Mandelson’s past.
In February, parliamentary actions prompted the publication of extensive documentation amid scrutiny concerning Mandelson’s connections to financier Jeffrey Epstein prior to his appointment as the UK’s Ambassador to the US. McSweeney resigned from his role in Downing Street the previous month, with critiques attributing blame for Mandelson’s controversial appointment to him.
Concerns also surfaced regarding McSweeney’s failure to back up his phone, which contributed to the loss of relevant correspondence. The Metropolitan Police have released a transcript of McSweeney’s emergency call reporting the theft, where he provided personal details and indicated the device was a governmental phone he had requested to track.
However, a mistake during the report logged the theft occurring in east London rather than Westminster, stemming from McSweeney mistakenly stating his location as Belgrave Street instead of Belgrave Road during his call on October 20. This error led to irrelevant CCTV checks, hampering the investigation.
The unfolding events highlight the intricate connections and accountability within political circles, reflecting ongoing tensions over transparency and integrity in leadership roles.
