Minister Slams Questions About Morgan McSweeney Phone Saga

Bridget Phillipson has claimed questions around the theft of Morgan McSweeney’s phone are drifting into “conspiracy theory territory”.

The cabinet minister was defending Keir Starmer’s former chief of staff as the government is facing further pressure to disclose all of its communications around Peter Mandelson’s appointment as ambassador to Washington.

McSweeney phoned the Metropolitan Police on October 20 last year to say his iPhone had been snatched out of his hand in Westminster.

In a transcript released by the police, McSweeney did not tell them who he was or why the phone contained highly-sensitive information.

He also mistakenly gave the call handler the wrong street name for where the theft took place.

The phone’s disappearance meant it was not possible to access any potential communications between the PM’s former top aide and his close friend Mandelson, who is in disgrace over his association with late paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

The theft has triggered intense scrutiny across Westminster about the timing of events.

On Sky News, presenter Trevor Phillips asked Phillipson: “Why is Morgan McSweeney the only person in the modern world who doesn’t have his messages automatically backed up to the cloud so we could recover them and see what traffic there was between him and our former ambassador to the United States?”

Phillipson said the “question was a bit of a reach”, adding: “It’s hyperbole and you know it.”

Phillips insisted the question was “perfectly straightforward”, before asking if she backed up her own messages.

“I follow all of the guidance on what is required,” the minister said. “What happened here, which we all know, is that Morgan McSweeney was mugged, reported that to the police, followed all of the processes that was asked of him.

“I do think some of this wider coverage is drifting into conspiracy theory territory here.”

The presenter said he was not questioning any of that, but was “just wondering how it is this particular set of exchanges seems to be the only thing in the 21st Century that isn’t backed up somewhere”.

“Again, that’s hyperbole and you know it,” Phillipson said, visibly irritated. “Come on, to say he’s the ‘only person’ – it’s ridiculous and you know that.”

She said McSweeney is providing any material required, while the government “is complying with the humble address, providing information that isn’t needed, has been asked”.

“All ministers will also be complying with what is asked of us,” she added.