THE PROBE into Peter Mandelson’s appointment as US ambassador risks turmoil as we can reveal a mobile phone used by Morgan McSweeney in government was stolen.
It means key messages between Keir Starmer’s ex chief-of-staff and the disgraced peer may be lost forever.
The bombshell revelation will fuel fears the public will never learn the full truth of what was known about Mandelson’s ties to Jeffrey Epstein before he was given the job.
No10 has to publish all emails, texts and reports into Mandelson’s appointment after a national outcry over his links to the late convicted paedophile.
This is meant to include “all electronic communications” between Mr McSweeney and the shamed peer.
But now it emerges there might be big gaps in the disclosure of the so-called Mandelson Files because of the missing mobile phone.
Mr McSweeney’s mobile phone was stolen last year and reported to police at the time – meaning the messages and data kept on it can no longer be accessed.
Although The Sun on Sunday understands some messages between Morgan and Mandelson have been found and will be published.
Tory shadow cabinet minister Alex Burghart said: “We had to drag the Mandelson files out of Keir Starmer and now we find the phone of his former Chief of Staff and protege of Mandelson won’t be part of the disclosure.
“The whole thing stinks of a cover up.”
The phone was stolen months before Parliament passed a ‘humble address’ forcing No10 to publish the documents into his appointment.
It is a fresh blow to Sir Keir Starmer, who has faced months of pressure over his disastrous decision to make Mandelson his man in Washington.
Mr McSweeney was the PM’s most powerful aide in Downing Street and cleared Mandelson’s appointment.
But he quit last month over the toxic fallout from the scandal.
The next tranche of these ‘Mandleson Files’ will be published next month, after the Easter holidays.
A government spokesman said: “We are committed to complying with the Humble Address in full, while continuing to support the Metropolitan Police with their investigation.“
