Downing Street Confirms Prime Minister Starmer Uses Disappearing Messages, Mandelson Communications Lost
Downing Street has confirmed that Prime Minister Keir Starmer utilises a disappearing message function on his phone, potentially leading to the irretrievable loss of WhatsApp communications with and about Lord Mandelson. This disclosure comes after MPs voted earlier this year to mandate the government to publish all relevant documents, including digital communications, pertaining to Lord Mandelson's appointment as the UK's ambassador to the United States.
A substantial release of documents on Monday, encompassing WhatsApp messages from senior ministers and civil servants, contained only a limited number of texts from the Prime Minister himself. Sir Keir Starmer maintained that he had surrendered all 'messages I hold' and had 'complied' with the disclosure process, noting that 'many people, not just in politics, use disappearing messages'.
WhatsApp's disappearing message tool allows users to set a deletion timeframe of 24 hours, seven days, or 90 days. Official guidance for ministers permits the use of such features, provided they do not hinder record-keeping or transparency. However, a review is currently underway regarding the widespread use of WhatsApp within government, with the Prime Minister's official spokesman acknowledging that 'lessons are to be learnt'. The spokesman highlighted that the released papers included 'multiple' documents from the Prime Minister's private office, which he described as the 'standard and established route for communicating prime ministerial decisions'.
Conservative shadow minister Alex Burghart criticised the practice, stating, 'Government guidance is clear: significant information and decisions must be properly recorded and preserved. But Keir Starmer's messages to Peter Mandelson have been disappeared or destroyed.'
Lord Beamish, chair of the Intelligence and Security Committee, urged senior officials and ministers to cease using WhatsApp for governmental affairs, citing security concerns and the absence of an audit trail for critical decision-making. He remarked, 'These are all issues that the last committee raised with both the Johnson and Sunak Governments. That culture is continuing; it cannot be allowed to continue.'
Other cabinet members, including Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy and Chancellor Rachel Reeves, also employ disappearing messages. The Mandelson files did include six non-WhatsApp texts between Lord Mandelson and Sir Keir, revealing a discussion about a potential meeting with former Prime Minister Sir John Major.
