Arabic version: داونينغ ستريت تظل صامتة بشأن الرسائل الرئيسية للهاتف المسروق
Downing Street has refused to say whether key messages between Morgan McSweeney and Lord Mandelson have been lost after it emerged that McSweeney’s government phone was stolen last year. The incident has raised questions about the security of sensitive communications within the government, especially as MPs demand the release of all messages relating to Mandelson’s appointment as US ambassador despite his friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
According to BBC News, the PM’s spokesman refused to comment on the specifics of the upcoming document release, which is expected to include messages from ministers and government aides. This follows a previous release that revealed the PM was warned about the risks associated with appointing Mandelson.
McSweeney’s phone was stolen in October, shortly after Mandelson was sacked. The timing has raised concerns about the potential loss of significant information, as McSweeney was a key advocate for Mandelson’s appointment. It remains unclear how many of his communications were preserved according to government security guidance.
The Metropolitan Police have also released a transcript of McSweeney’s 999 call reporting the theft, which occurred on October 20. In the call, McSweeney described the incident, stating that a thief on a bicycle “just robbed my phone”. The police initially recorded the wrong location of the crime, which has led to further scrutiny of their response.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting commented on the situation, expressing skepticism about the circumstances surrounding the theft. He emphasized the importance of investigating the incident thoroughly, given that it involved a senior government official’s device potentially containing sensitive information. Streeting noted that McSweeney could not have known in October that the contents of his phone would be wanted by MPs in February.
As the government prepares to comply with the MPs’ request for the release of relevant communications, the implications of this incident continue to unfold.
