Officials plan to request messages from Lord Peter Mandelson’s personal phone as part of efforts to release communications tied to his US ambassador appointment. The move aims to clarify the decision amid his documented connections to financier Jeffrey Epstein.
Request for Personal Documents
Government officials intend to ask the former ambassador to provide relevant documents and messages from his device, including exchanges with ministers. Sources confirm this step forms part of a broader information collection effort and bears no link to the theft of Morgan McSweeney’s phone last October.
McSweeney, who advocated for Mandelson’s nomination, stepped down as chief of staff to Sir Keir Starmer earlier this year due to his involvement in the appointment process. Concerns have arisen that messages between McSweeney and Mandelson may now be inaccessible following the device’s loss.
Political Reactions to Phone Theft
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch described the theft as “very suspicious,” noting it occurred after documents were set for release. Sir Keir Starmer dismissed cover-up claims as “a little bit far-fetched” and rejected suggestions of obfuscation.
Starmer stated: “The phone was stolen. It was reported to the police. There’s a transcript of the call in which Morgan McSweeney gives his name, his date of birth, the details of the phone, and the police confirm that it was reported. Unfortunately, there are thefts like this. It was stolen. It was reported at the time, the police have acknowledged and confirmed that. That is what happened.”
Mandelson Files Release
Ministers’ messages with Mandelson form the second tranche of documents, compelled by MPs’ action in February. The initial batch, released earlier this month, revealed the prime minister approved the role despite warnings of reputational risks from Epstein ties.
Mandelson, a political appointee rather than a career diplomat, lost his Washington position in September last year following new Epstein-related disclosures from US documents. Authorities arrested him on February 23 on suspicion of misconduct in public office, alleging he shared sensitive information with Epstein while serving as business secretary under Gordon Brown.
