Downing Street Acknowledges Message Deletion from Starmer’s Phone
Downing Street has confirmed that messages from Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s mobile phone were automatically deleted after critics highlighted significant gaps in the public record regarding Peter Mandelson, a controversial figure in the Labor Party.
The British government released over 1,500 pages of emails and messages about Mandelson, who previously served as the ambassador to the United States. Initially, the government had not planned to make this information public, but a parliamentary vote mandated that they comply.
However, Conservative critics pointed out notable omissions, including a lack of communication between Starmer and Mandelson. A guardian report suggests that while this could be due in part to Starmer not drafting many of his own messages—relying instead on staff for correspondence—it’s widely acknowledged that some of the missing messages resulted from mass deletion.
Downing Street claims it complied with parliamentary requests by submitting all available information. However, this does not include deleted WhatsApp messages. A public relations representative indicated that “the Prime Minister is using disappearing messages,” referencing how some ministers are advised to utilize non-corporate communication channels.
The report adds that while using disappearing messages is within the government’s guidelines—intended to manage the accumulation of messages—authorities must ensure this practice doesn’t hinder record-keeping or transparency.
Starmer’s choice to delete correspondence is the latest factor contributing to the absence of official records in this week’s document release.
As noted previously, Peter Mandelson refused to surrender his phone, asserting that the government lacked the authority to compel him since he is no longer an employee. Another key figure involved in the scandal, Morgan McSweeney, also could not provide her work phone, claiming it had been stolen.
Interestingly, soon after the documents were published, records from a second minister’s phone were also reported missing, with theft cited as the explanation once again.
