Messages between Mandelson and the head of the British Prime Minister's Cabinet (the equivalent of the Polish head of the Chancellery of the Prime Minister), Nick Thomas-Symonds were not included in the files because he reported the theft of his phone – another one from the British Prime Minister's immediate circle. This is according to documents obtained by POLITICO.
Nick Thomas-Symonds, the minister responsible for the new opening in the UK's relations with the EU, met officially with Mandelson in January last year to discuss how the then ambassador could support this plan from Washington.
But the files did not include previous conversations between the minister and Mandelson, who was dismissed as US ambassador on September 11 last year because of his association with the late convicted sex offender Epstein.
Just over a month later, on October 15, Thomas-Symonds reported to police and authorities that his private phone had been stolen overnight.
The minister told officers that he was walking next to the building of the Ministry of Internal Affairs when three cyclists attacked him. Scotland Yard confirmed a theft in Marsham Street, Westminster, reported the same night.
Five days later, on October 20, Morgan McSweeney, then a top adviser to Prime Minister Keir Starmer, also reported that his phone had been stolen by a man on a bicycle.
In February, MPs from across parties pressed Starmer to release a wide trove of communications between Mandelson, ministers and officials to explain what the government knew about the ambassador's relationship with Epstein.
However, officials have long been preparing for the possibility that compromising information exchanged as part of a process known as humble address (messages sent by the British Parliament directly to the King to discuss sensitive issues) – whether about their true opinions about Donald Trump or uncomfortable conversations with Mandelson.
The moment McSweeney reported his phone stolen sparked public distrust, prompting London police to make an unprecedented public release of the full transcript of the phone call. Phone thefts are a common crime in London – official figures show more than 71,000 were reported last year.
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Another theft report
According to the minister's team, Thomas-Symonds was returning to his apartment after dinner, passing the Home Office building on October 15, when he was attacked.
He was uninjured, and just before midnight, the minister informed his team over a government phone that his personal device had been stolen. He said he reported the incident to the police and blocked the phone with the operator, according to an exchange of messages on WhatsApp obtained by POLITICO.
The MP's colleagues, in accordance with procedure, notified the security team in the British Prime Minister's Office about the theft just after midnight on October 16, as evidenced by subsequent e-mails.
Thomas-Symonds told officials that he remembered exchanging pleasantries with Mandelson about their work – and that Mandelson, then running for chancellor of Oxford University, was seeking his vote as an Oxford alumnus, as he had done with other Labor MPs.
— These messages were not backed up and could not be recovered – said one of the minister's allies anonymously.
“Nick complied fully [procedury] humble address, providing all the details of the messages that he could recall, all relating to the period before Mandelson took office, the source added. — Transparency is the only solution [w tej sytuacji].
A spokesman for London Police said: 'We were called on Wednesday, October 15, at around 11.25pm, when a man reported that three cyclists had stolen his phone. The incident happened about half an hour earlier in Marsham Street, Westminster.
— The officers carried out preliminary activities, but the case was closed because the perpetrators could not be identified, he added.
Last month, a man was arrested on suspicion of stealing McSweeney's phone, but the device was not recovered.
The British Prime Minister's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
I’m Ashley Davis as an editor, I’m committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity and accuracy in every piece we publish. My work is driven by curiosity, a passion for truth, and a belief that journalism plays a crucial role in shaping public discourse. I strive to tell stories that not only inform but also inspire action and conversation.
