Arrest in Connection with Theft of Senior Advisor's Phone
A man has been taken into custody in south London following an investigation into the theft of a mobile phone belonging to Morgan McSweeney, who previously served as Keir Starmer's chief of staff. The incident, which occurred in October 2025, drew significant public attention earlier this year when the government pledged to release all communications from ministers and officials concerning the appointment of Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the United States.
Many of the WhatsApp messages exchanged by McSweeney, a central figure in that decision-making process, will be omitted from the disclosure due to the loss of the device. The Metropolitan Police confirmed that a 28-year-old individual was arrested on suspicion of handling stolen goods, although the phone itself has not yet been recovered.
Details of the Theft
McSweeney, then acting as Starmer's top adviser, dialed 999 after the official phone was snatched by a man on a bicycle in Belgrave Road, Pimlico. The call was marred by confusion, leading to police recording an incorrect address for the crime. Consequently, the case was closed after McSweeney received a reference number.
The investigation was later reopened following a report by the Sun on Sunday, which disclosed details of the incident. The Met took the unusual step of releasing a transcript of the 999 call. Speaking to the Foreign Affairs Committee last month, McSweeney recounted that he attempted to chase the thief before contacting Downing Street, adding that he would have followed any instructions given by No 10.
When questioned about why he did not reveal his senior role during the 999 call, McSweeney explained: 'If No 10 had told me you need to tell the police or you need to tell the call handler what your job is, I would have done so. But otherwise, I didn’t do that as a matter of course. I didn’t in any part of my job go around saying, “I’m a very serious and senior person.”'
Police Statement
A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police stated: 'Officers investigating the theft of a mobile phone in Belgrave Road, Pimlico on 20 October 2025 have arrested a 28-year-old man on suspicion of handling stolen goods. The arrest took place on Wednesday, 29 April at an address in Peckham. The man was taken into police custody and later bailed. He is suspected of receiving the phone after it was stolen and then selling it on. He is not suspected of any involvement in the original theft. The phone has not been recovered.'
The case continues to be under investigation, with authorities seeking to locate the missing device and determine the full chain of events.
