Starmer says it’s ‘far-fetched’ to counsel McSweeney cellphone theft linked to Mandelson information | EUROtoday

Sir Keir Starmer has stated it’s “a little bit far-fetched” to counsel the theft of his former chief of workers Morgan McSweeney’s cellphone was linked to the discharge of information regarding Peter Mandelson’s appointment as British ambassador to the US.

Concerns have been raised that the cellphone snatching, which occurred in London in October 2025, might consequence within the lack of necessary messages between the pair.

Speaking to broadcasters in Helsinki, the prime minister insisted the cellphone had been stolen and dismissed solutions the declare was an try to obfuscate.

Sir Keir 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 … and the idea that somehow everybody could have seen that some time in the future there’d be a request over the phone is, to my mind, a little bit far-fetched.”

Mr McSweeney, who is alleged to have pushed for the previous Labour peer’s appointment as US ambassador, resigned as Sir Keir’s chief of workers earlier this 12 months over his function within the choice.

The Metropolitan Police wrongly recorded the theft as having taken place in east London slightly than Westminster after Mr McSweeney wrongly gave his location as Belgrave Street slightly than Belgrave Road through the 20 October name.

Police have taken the bizarre step of releasing a transcript of Mr McSweeney’s 999 name reporting the cellphone theft.

In the course of the decision, he offers his identify, a private electronic mail tackle and a house tackle exterior London, and he says the machine is a authorities cellphone and that he has referred to as his workplace to get it tracked.

Given that the theft was recorded within the incorrect place, officers checked the incorrect CCTV and concluded there have been no practical strains of inquiry to observe. This is now being reviewed.

The Cabinet Office does have among the messages between Mr McSweeney and Lord Mandelson, it’s understood.

Health secretary Wes Streeting has stated the lack of messages was a “cock-up rather than conspiracy” whereas Downing Street has been eager to stress the cellphone theft occurred “months before” MPs compelled the federal government to launch correspondence associated to Lord Mandelson’s appointment because the UK’s ambassador to the US.

MPs moved in February to pressure the publication of tens of hundreds of paperwork amid questions over what was identified in regards to the peer’s hyperlinks to paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein earlier than he was handed the Washington job.

Lord Mandelson, a political appointment slightly than a profession diplomat, was sacked from his Washington function in September final 12 months over his hyperlinks with Epstein, who died in 2019.

He was arrested on 23 February on suspicion of misconduct in public workplace, having been accused of passing delicate data to Epstein throughout his time as enterprise secretary in Gordon Brown’s authorities.

Sir Keir has repeatedly stated he’s sorry for believed Lord Mandelson’s “lies” over his connection to the intercourse offender and for appointing him as US ambassador.

The first tranche of paperwork associated to the peer’s appointment was printed earlier this month, with extra to observe.