Story perspectives

Man Arrested Over Stolen Phone Tied to Mandelson Appointment

5/8/2026

Summary

Story summary

A 28-year-old man was arrested in Peckham on suspicion of handling former chief of staff Morgan McSweeney’s stolen phone.
The Metropolitan Police released the 999 call transcript in March after criticism of the slow investigation.
The phone remains unrecovered and is believed to hold WhatsApp messages about Lord Peter Mandelson’s ambassadorial appointment.
Morgan McSweeney told the Foreign Affairs Select Committee he used disappearing WhatsApp messages, limiting parliamentary access.

History

Historical Context

In 2007 News of the World royal editor Clive Goodman and private investigator Glenn Mulcaire pleaded guilty to illegal voicemail interception, prompting editor Andy Coulson’s resignation. Subsequent investigations uncovered hacking of up to 7,000 public figures, leading to Operation Weeting in 2011 and the paper’s closure. That precedent fuels parliamentary scrutiny of today’s Peckham arrest over a stolen phone allegedly holding Lord Mandelson’s WhatsApp messages.

1 of 2

Story summary

A 28-year-old man was arrested in Peckham on suspicion of handling former chief of staff Morgan McSweeney’s stolen phone.
The Metropolitan Police released the 999 call transcript in March after criticism of the slow investigation.
The phone remains unrecovered and is believed to hold WhatsApp messages about Lord Peter Mandelson’s ambassadorial appointment.
Morgan McSweeney told the Foreign Affairs Select Committee he used disappearing WhatsApp messages, limiting parliamentary access.

1 / 2