Morgan McSweeney's stolen phone was reported to police after Mandelson was sacked

Sir Keir Starmer's former Chief of Staff reported his mobile phone as stolen on October 20, according to Scotland Yard.

The confirmation reveals that the phone was stolen more than a month after Lord Mandelson's removal from the Washington posting over his links to Jeffrey Epstein.

In February, Parliament ordered the Government to hand over and release all files which relate to Mandelson's appointment as Ambassador to the US.

But McSweeney's phone being stolen means some text messages may never be recovered.

McSweeney is understood to be a close ally of the former New Labour heavyweight.

Read More: Morgan McSweeney's phone 'stolen' as texts with Mandelson could be 'lost'

Read More: Pictured: Sydney knifeman, 40, who killed six people before being shot dead by brave policewoman

Stephen Flynn, the Westminster leader for the Scottish National Party, has accused the Government of lying about the timing of the phone theft.

Writing on X, the MP for Aberdeen South said: This mobile phone is vital to the Mandelson scandal. The Labour Prime Minister’s then Chief of Staff says it was stolen.

"[Steve Reed] told the public that the theft happened months before the Mandelson scandal. Turns out that’s not true.

"Why did he lie?"

Housing Secretary Steve Reed had previously told LBC the phone had been lost "months before the situation began".

Speaking to LBC's Lewis Goodall on Sunday, Mr Reed said: "As I understand it, that was a theft that was reported months before the whole Mandelson situation even began."

When pressed by Lewis about potential backups of McSweeney's messages with Mandelson, he replied: "Well, I don't [have backups].

"I don't know what he does or doesn't have in terms of... but his phone was stolen, and he reported it at the time, and it was well in advance of anything happening around the Mandelson situation."

A government spokesperson said: “We are committed to complying with the Humble Address in full."

“All government departments, ministers and relevant individuals have been asked to provide the information they hold within scope of the Humble Address.”