Police reveal blunder over Morgan McSweeney stolen phone amid Mandelson probe
The Metropolitan Police are reopening a previously closed investigation into the seizure of a mobile phone belonging to Sir Keir Starmer’s former chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, after she admitted recording the wrong address.
The incident, which took place in central London last October, was initially incorrectly recorded as having occurred in Belgrave Street, Tower Hamlets.
Sun The newspaper reported that the device may have contained messages about the appointment of Lord Peter Mandelson as Britain’s ambassador to the US, raising concerns about the loss of communications.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed on Tuesday that a man in his 40s had reported his phone stolen and they are now investigating the incident following an administrative error.
Police said a previous review of the allegation, including whether CCTV was available, “did not identify any realistic lines of inquiry” and the investigation was closed.
Responding to a recent media inquiry, the force said it became aware that the wrong address was recorded at the time of the initial call to police and that it should have been stated as Belgrave Road in Westminster.
Police said the error will now be corrected and police will reassess whether there is evidence available.
A Met Police spokesman said: “On Monday 20 October police received a report from a man in his 40s who claimed his phone had been stolen.
“The incident was recorded to have occurred on Belgrave Street E1.
“The investigation of the allegation did not identify any realistic line of inquiry, including assessing whether CCTV was available. The investigation was subsequently closed.
“While responding to a recent media inquiry we discovered that the address was entered incorrectly during the initial search and should have been recorded as Belgrave Road, Pimlico instead.
“Once this error is identified, the report will be amended and the assessment of whether there is existing evidence will be reconsidered.”
Mr McSweeney left Downing Street last month under great pressure, with many accusing him of delaying Lord Mandelson’s appointment.
MPs have ordered the Government to publish tens of thousands of documents relating to Lord Mandelson’s appointment in 2024, following questions about how he was vetted and what was known about his links to pedophilia financier Jeffrey Epstein.
Apparently there are some messages between him and Lord Mandelson in the Cabinet Office.
A Government spokesman previously said: “We are determined to fully comply with our humble address as we continue to support the Metropolitan Police in their investigations.”
