Scotlandstillsaysnaw
59.4K posts
@Scotger9
Scottish and British. And a believer in the democratic process.
So we're supposed to believe that the PM’s most senior adviser had his phone stolen, and didn't feel the need to report it to anyone in the security services? Not only that, we're supposed to believe that his messages aren't backed up anywhere? How stupid do they think we are?
Exclusive: Police did not investigate the theft of Morgan McSweeney’s phone because officers were “too busy”, despite the sensitivity of his messages and contacts Sir Keir Starmer’s former chief of staff told the Metropolitan police that his phone was stolen as he returned home from a restaurant in central London on October 20 last year The theft of the work device means that McSweeney’s WhatsApp messages and texts to Lord Mandelson, the former ambassador to the US, cannot be retrieved. It has led critics to question whether the phone was stolen The State of It, the political podcast from The Times and The Sunday Times, can disclose that McSweeney told police the phone was taken by a man wearing a balaclava on an electric bike. The man grabbed it out of his hand as McSweeney was responding to text messages and cycled off. McSweeney gave chase but was unable to keep up Scotland Yard has a record of the incident but did not carry out any formal investigation. Officers did not speak to McSweeney directly because they were too busy. He was given a crime reference number and the case was closed McSweeney reported the theft of his phone to No 10 and the device was shut off remotely. He was given a new device with the same number the next day. The theft of the phone was first reported by The Sun on Sunday thetimes.com/uk/politics/ar…
Just spoke to a former senior government advisor. He had his mobile stolen on Whitehall. A full investigation was launched, initially by the Government security team, and then the police. The advisor was senior, but not as senior as McSweeney.
There's been some confusion about this (and some attempt to muddy the waters by No.10). So to be crystal clear. All the messages on McSweeney's mobile have gone. There was no backup.
Why wind power isn't “woke”, my piece in today's @spectator. The North Sea matters but won’t cut bills - we pay the global price for gas. Fracking is unpopular and wouldn’t change that. SMRs are promising but distant. Wind is the practical, affordable option to build right now. spectator.com/article/wind-p…
A new report into foreign interference in British politics has been released. In response to the findings, Steve Reed has announced a series of changes, including an annual cap on political donations from British citizens overseas of £100,000. trib.al/40YWdLy 📺 Sky 501
BREAKING Morgan McSweeney did not tell the Metropolitan Police who he was or where he worked when he called 999 after his phone was stolen The Metropolitan Police has released a transcript of the call and said that it was not aware 'of the victims employment or the particular security risks associated with his device or material on it The call took place on 20 October, 2025 at 22.30. McSweeney stated that it was a government phone Here is the verbatim transcript of the call in full: Call handler: Police, what's your emergency? Caller: Oh, hello, someone just robbed my phone. Call handler: Did they actually take it from you just now? Caller: Yeah Call handler: How did they get away? Caller: So he's on a bike. He's come onto the pavement to grab my phone and cycled off on a bike. Call handler: And where did this happen? Caller: It happened in Belgrave Street* in Westminster. *We now know that the incident took place in Belgrave Road, Westminster. The call handler inputs Belgrave Street and it provides a matching road name in Tower Hamlets, which is what is recorded in error. There are further references to locations near to Belgrave Street in Tower Hamlets later in the call, which compounds the issue. Call handler: And whose phone are you using now? Caller: I've got two phones. I'm using my personal one. That was my work one. Call handler: Can I take the phone number for this phone you're calling on? Caller: Yeah, 07XXXXXXXXX. Call handler: Thank you. And you said Belgrave Street, yeah? Caller: Yeah, just kind of going back to the location. Call handler: Don't put yourself at any risk. It's not worth it over a phone. I appreciate it’s frustrating. Call handler: And which way did they go towards, this suspect on a bike? Caller: He went. He travels north. I saw him for a few blocks. Call handler: So where were you when you last saw him? Have you got any idea? Caller: Yeah, so. Call handler: Did you get up to Stepney? Caller: Let me tell you where I got to. I'm just going back to where I can. Caller: So he turned right. Sorry, he turned left. There's a park on top of the road and he turned left there. Call handler: Stepney Green Park, ok. Caller: Yeah. He turned left there. Call handler: Can you remember anything about his appearance? Caller: Yeah, he was young. He was a black guy. He was on a bike. Call handler: About how young? Call handler: Just a guess. Caller: Teens. Late teens. Call handler: Was he skinny, tall, any idea? Caller: Yeah. He was slim. He was about average height. Call handler: Was it an e bike or pedal bike? Caller: Pedal bike. Call handler: Have you got a tracker on the phone at all? Caller: I do. It’s a government phone. Call handler: And it's your work phone. What kind of phone is it? Caller: It’s an iPhone. Call handler: Do you know what model? Caller: I don't. [PAUSE] Call handler: Right, just bear with me a second. Call handler: We would normally deploy to see you but at the moment, we are having extreme demand on police officers. So, I don't know if you would prefer to make your way home and make a crime report over the phone or online tomorrow. I mean, I can complete one with you now. I can pass this down, you can wait, but I honestly do not know how long you'll be waiting, Caller: If I could complete it now that would be good. Call handler: Ok. Call handler: What's your name, please? Caller: My name is XXXXXXXXXX. Call handler: XXXXXXXXXX? (repeats name back) Caller: Yeah. Call handler: And your date of birth, please? Caller: It's XXXXXX Call handler: Is XXXXXXXXX (surname) all one word? Caller: Yeah, (spells surname). Call handler: And what's your home address? Caller: (Provides non-London address) Call handler: So you live in XXXXXX? Caller: Yeah. Call handler: Are you staying anywhere while you're in London? Caller: Yeah. Call handler: Sorry, it just takes a little bit longer to deal with an address outside of the Met. I do apologise. Caller: It’s ok. Call handler: And may I take an email for you please (name)? Caller: Yeah, it's XXXXXXXXXXX@XXXXXXXXXX.com (personal email address) Call handler: You'll get a copy of the preliminary crime report through to that email. Call handler: How would you like to be contacted by an investigating officer? By email or phone? Caller: Phone, please. Or either, I’m not fussed. Call handler: Have you got any finance apps on the phone? Caller: No. Call handler: You'll need to change any passwords for any logins you do have on the phone. Caller: Yeah, okay. Call handler: You're not vulnerable in any way. Are you? Caller: No I’m not. Call handler: Do you believe there was any CCTV near where the incident happened? Caller: Might be. [Inaudible] away from location. Call handler: Don't worry. Don't return. No, I'll just put at the moment unknown. And obviously, if we find out more, we find out more. Call handler: Are you willing to make a statement to support the investigation? Caller: Definitely. Call handler: So what time did he actually snatch the phone? Caller: About two minutes before I rung you and I chased, and then I rang my office to get the phone tracked and then I rang you. Call handler: Okay, cool. It would have been about 25 past that you were robbed. Caller: A little before, about 23 minutes past, I think. Call handler: 23? Little bit before? Okay. [PAUSE] Call handler: Just bear with me, I’m just trying to get this system to accept the address. Sorry about this. I won't keep you much longer. Call handler: If you do get any tracking updates, what you do is you give us call back if the phone is stationary. Caller: Yeah. Call handler: And we can review attending then. We can't guarantee attending a moving phone at all, but if it's been stationary for a few… Call handler: It’s not accepting your address. Caller: I can give you my London address? Call handler: It’s alright. I've nearly got this to work. Caller: Okay Call handler: How long you staying in London? Caller: So I come to London every week. I work in London. Call handler: Oh, I see. Okay, that makes sense. Caller: So I'll be here till Thursday. Call handler: Okay. [PAUSE] Call handler: As I was trying to say, I've got this sorted now, so I'll be texting you a crime reference number in the next few moments. Along with the crime reference number will be a CHS reference number. If you need to give us a call back, you can call back giving that reference number from any device, and then we'll be able to link it straight away to your crime report and review deploying. We will need to know a bit more details about the phone itself, so when you're contacted by the investigating officer, or if you do get tracking details, you can call us back with the IMEI number, and the type of phone that it is that would be super helpful. Caller: All right, thank you. Call handler: All right, I’m just about to text you through the crime reference number now. Caller: Thank you so much. You’ve been really helpful. Call handler: No worries. All right, (name). You take care now, okay? Bye. Caller: Bye bye.
