Morgan McSweeney’s government-issued iPhone was stolen on Belgrave Road in Pimlico, central London, shortly before 10:30 PM on October 20 last year. According to multiple reports, McSweeney reported the theft using his personal phone and mentioned that the stolen device had a tracker installed.
Key Takeaways
The Metropolitan Police have reopened the investigation into Morgan McSweeney's stolen phone after he provided the wrong address during reporting. The device may have contained messages about Peter Mandelson's appointment as UK ambassador to Washington DC, raising questions about data retention and security protocols among senior officials.
- McSweeney reported his government-issued iPhone stolen on Belgrave Road in Pimlico at 10:30 PM on October 20 last year
- The phone may have contained messages between McSweeney and Peter Mandelson regarding his appointment as UK ambassador to Washington DC
- Police initially recorded the wrong address for the crime, leading to an incorrect investigation location
- Downing Street has refused to confirm whether key messages were lost due to the theft
- Opposition MPs accuse Labour of a cover-up while Downing Street maintains established security protocols were followed
The phone is believed to have contained messages between McSweeney and Peter Mandelson, who was sacked as UK ambassador to Washington DC in September 2024 due to his ties with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The theft occurred about four months before a Conservative motion compelled the government to release all relevant communications involving Mandelson.
The Metropolitan Police initially recorded the wrong address for the crime, leading to an incorrect investigation location. According to multiple reports, McSweeney gave the wrong street name—Belgrave Street instead of Belgrave Road—which led police to believe the theft occurred in Stepney, east London. The Met has since admitted this error and is reassessing available evidence.
Downing Street has refused to confirm whether key messages between McSweeney and Mandelson were lost due to the phone theft. According to multiple reports, officials are obliged to record or back up relevant information, including WhatsApp messages, but compliance with this guidance is left to individual judgment. Health Secretary Wes Streeting described the situation as a “cock-up” rather than a conspiracy.
The government has promised to comply with the Conservative motion and release all relevant communications. However, the theft of McSweeney’s phone raises questions about data retention practices among senior officials. Opposition MPs have accused Labour of a cover-up, while Downing Street maintains that established security protocols were followed.
How this summary was created
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