Keir Starmer is facing claims of a cover-up today after it emerged his chief aide’s messages to Mandelson have gone missing.

Discussions between Morgan McSweeney and the peer were apparently on a mobile phone that has been stolen.

That means some information cannot be retrieved to be published with a swathe of other material about Mandelson’s appointment as US ambassador. 

Sir Keir was forced into the transparency move last month following a revolt by MPs furious that the New Labour architect’s long-standing friendship with Epstein was overlooked. 

The disclosure was meant to include all emails and texts between No10 figures and Mandelson before he was made US envoy in December 2024. 

Keir Starmer with Morgan McSweeney (left) in Downing Street last year

The PM left his aides to ask Mandelson (pictured) questions about his long-standing ties to paedophile Jeffrey Epstein

The first batch of documents earlier this month showed the PM was given a vetting assessment highlighting Mandelson’s ‘close’ links to Epstein.

Ms McSweeney resigned as No10 chief of staff last month saying he took ‘full responsibility’ for advising Sir Keir to hand Mandelson the job.  

Communities Secretary Steve Reed denied any cover-up this morning, stressing that Mr McSweeney’s phone was stolen last year, and reported to the police at the time.

‘I don’t know what he does or doesn’t have in terms of backups, but his phone was stolen and he reported it at the time,’ the minister told LBC. 

Tory frontbencher Alex Burghart told the Sun on Sunday: ‘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.’

It is understood the Cabinet Office does hold some messages between Mr McSweeney and Mandelson.   

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.’ 

The PM came close to being ousted in a wave of anger about the affair last month.

He has admitted it was ‘me that made the mistake’ and offered an apology to the victims of Epstein. 

A three-page ‘due diligence’ report supplied to Sir Keir on December 11, 2024 flagged the ties between Mandelson and Epstein

Sir Keir did not speak to Mandelson personally before he was appointed, instead leaving it to aides to ask questions about his Epstein ties.

Lord Mandelson was arrested on February 23 on suspicion of misconduct in public office, having been accused of passing sensitive information to Epstein during his time as business secretary under Gordon Brown.

He was subsequently bailed, but later handed his passport back and freed under investigation. He has denied any criminal wrongdoing or acting for personal gain.