The government is facing scrutiny after the theft of Morgan McSweeney’s government-issued phone, the former prime minister’s chief of staff. The device, stolen on October 20, contained messages with Lord Peter Mandelson, the recently dismissed UK ambassador to the US, raising concerns over the loss of sensitive communications mandated for parliamentary release.
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McSweeney’s phone was reported stolen shortly after Mandelson’s October dismissal, following revelations of the ambassador’s ties to deceased financier Jeffrey Epstein. The Metropolitan Police have confirmed the theft occurred in Westminster but initially recorded the address incorrectly as Belgrave Street in Tower Hamlets due to confusion over street names. The investigation into the phone theft has been reopened.
The stolen phone reportedly contained contact details and messages involving senior government figures including Sir Keir Starmer, cabinet members, and officials, data of interest to foreign intelligence services. Parliamentary orders require the publication of all electronic communications between McSweeney and Mandelson related to Mandelson’s appointment and tenure. There is growing concern that key messages from McSweeney’s phone may be permanently lost, although the Cabinet Office reportedly holds some of these communications.
Opposition figures have questioned whether McSweeney complied with data retention rules that mandate the recording of significant official information on government systems. Downing Street has not confirmed compliance but emphasized existing guidelines require the capture of substantive discussions from non-official channels such as WhatsApp, regardless of the device used. Officials state established processes were enacted following the theft, and Number 10’s security team was informed promptly.
The incident adds to broader issues around government data security, with more than 2,000 government devices reported lost or stolen across departments in 2024. The government has pledged to comply fully with the parliamentary order regarding the release of Mandelson-related communications.
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