UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has dismissed suggestions that the theft of his chief of staff Morgan McSweeney’s phone is connected to the release of documents related to Peter Mandelson.
Speaking to journalists, Starmer described such claims as “far-fetched,” emphasizing that the phone was genuinely stolen and properly reported to the police at the time.
According to the Prime Minister, there is official confirmation of the report, including details such as McSweeney’s identity and the stolen device. He noted that incidents like phone theft are unfortunately common and insisted there was no hidden motive behind it.
The issue has gained attention because the stolen government-issued iPhone reportedly contained messages between McSweeney and Mandelson. This comes as the government faces pressure to release documents—often referred to as the “Mandelson files”—related to Mandelson’s role and dismissal as the UK ambassador to the United States.
Mandelson was removed from his position following the emergence of emails suggesting closer ties than previously known with financier Jeffrey Epstein.
Some politicians have questioned the circumstances of the phone theft. However, UK Defence Secretary John Healey supported the official explanation, stating that proper procedures were followed and that such thefts are not unusual.
Starmer also pointed out that it would be unrealistic to assume anyone could have predicted future demands for the phone’s data at the time it was reported stolen.
The Prime Minister made these comments during a visit to Finland, where he attended a Joint Expeditionary Force military summit. During the visit, he highlighted ongoing global tensions, mentioning both the conflict involving Iran and the continuing war in Ukraine as key concerns.