MORGAN McSweeney did not tell the Met Police he worked for the Prime Minister when he called 999 to report his phone theft, a transcript reveals.
Scotland Yard made the highly unusual decision to release details of the call after they faced questions over why they did not pursue an into the stolen phone.
Morgan McSweeney alongside Sir Keir Starmer. Credit: Story Picture AgencyCredit: Story Picture Agency
Cops stressed they did not know Mr McSweeney was employed by Sir or the “particular security risks” associated with his device.
“This was not information provided to us and could not reasonably have shaped our decision making,” the Met said.
A transcript from the call, made on October 20 last year just before 10.30pm, shows Mr McSweeney did tell the cops the phone was a Government handset.
The Met revealed they made two attempts to phone him during working hours the next day – but there was “no answer”.
They said they reviewed available CCTV cameras in the area which did not identify any “realistic lines of enquiry” before closing the case.
MCSWEENEY'S CALL TO COPS
An extract from the phone call
Call handler: Can you remember anything about his appearance?
Caller: Yeah, he was young. He was a black guy. He was on a bike.
Call handler: About how young?
Call handler: Just a guess.
Caller: Teens. Late teens.
Call handler: Was he skinny, tall, any idea?
Caller: Yeah. He was slim. He was about average height.
Call handler: Was it an e bike or pedal bike?
Caller: Pedal bike.
Call handler: Have you got a tracker on the phone at all?
Caller: I do. It’s a government phone.
Call handler: And it’s your work phone. What kind of phone is it?
Caller: It’s an iPhone.
Call handler: Do you know what model?
Caller: I don’t.
During the phone call to , Mr McSweeney wrongly gave the location as Belgrave Street, in Tower Hamlets, instead of Belgrave Road in Westminster.
The Met has amended the error and is reassessing whether there is evidence available.
There are fears that important messages about Lord Peter Mandelson’s appointment as British ambassador to the US could have been lost in the theft.
The Labour Government has been forced by MPs to release documents surrounding the peer’s links to paedophile financier before he was handed the job.
Mr McSweeney dramatically quit as Sir Keir’s chief of staff last month amid fierce scrutiny over his role in the appointment.
Furious Labour MPs blamed Mr McSweeney for pushing for Lord Mandelson to be given the job – despite the friendship with Epstein being public knowledge.
Earlier today Health Secretary claimed the phone theft was a “cock-up not conspiracy”.
The Cabinet Minister said Mr McSweeney could not have known his messages would be needed for a probe into Lord Mandelson’s appointment as US ambassador.
He told Times Radio: “I can totally understand the cynicism in these sorts of cases, but do bear in mind that when his phone was stolen, it was reported to the police at the time.
“He couldn’t at that stage have known that would ask for the publication of all messages in the way that they have in quite an unprecedented way.
“Yes, sometimes in things can be explained as a result of conspiracy. In other times, more often than not, it is a result of cock-up rather than conspiracy.”
Concerns have also been raised over the fact the phone was not backed up.
Lord Mandelson was sacked from his role in September last year over his links with Epstein.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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