Morgan McSweeney’s missing phone prompts accusations of a ‘cover up’ over Mandelson probe
Sir Keir Starmer’s government has faced allegations of a cover-up after it was revealed that messages between his chief adviser and his former counterpart Peter Mandelson had disappeared.
Morgan McSweeney’s phone containing the messages was stolen last year.
On Sunday, cabinet minister Steve Reed said the theft was reported to police months before the scandal involving the once leading Labor candidate broke.
But the Conservative Party said the situation “reeked of a cover-up”.
Sir Keir was forced to promise that large amounts of information about Mandelson’s appointment as US ambassador would be published after his relationship with pedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein was revealed.
Mr McSweeney, who reportedly pressured Lord Mandelson to take up the ambassadorial role, resigned as Sir Keir’s private secretary earlier this year following a row over his appointment and revelations about what was known at the time about the pair’s connections.
Alex Burghart, a leading Conservative figure, said: “We had to get the Mandelson files out of Keir Starmer and now we have learned that the phone of the former chief of staff and Mandelson protégé will not be part of the expose. The whole thing smacks of a cover-up.”
Housing minister Steve Reed told LBC on Sunday: “His phone was stolen and he reported it at the time.”
It is understood that some of the messages between Mr McSweeney and Lord Mandelson were kept in the Cabinet Office.
Sir Keir has repeatedly said he was sorry for believing Mandelson’s “lies” and appointing him to a key role in Washington. He also offered a sincere apology to Epstein’s victims for the decision.
Lord Mandelson was arrested on February 23 on suspicion of misconduct in public office, accused of passing sensitive information to Epstein during his time as business secretary.
He was later released on bail, but was later released from his bail conditions although the investigation was ongoing.
Last month Wes Streeting became the first senior Labor figure to publish private messages with Lord Mandelson expressing criticism of Sir Keir’s government.
They also revealed that the health minister believed he was “flipping at the next election” and as one of Sir Keir’s most senior ministers, he berated the government for having no economic growth strategy and policy over Israel’s “war crimes”.
A government spokesman said: “We are committed to full compliance with the Humble Conversation, whilst continuing to support the Metropolitan Police with their investigations.”
