Overview
- The government published about 1,500 pages of emails and messages this week that include candid exchanges between Lord Peter Mandelson and senior ministers and show internal criticism of Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
- Downing Street confirmed the Prime Minister uses WhatsApp's disappearing-messages function, a practice several ministers also say limited what could be handed over for the disclosure process.
- Some senior figures told Parliament they could not provide exchanges because messages were not saved or devices were lost, while Mandelson has refused to surrender his phone and the Metropolitan Police asked for pages to be withheld because of its ongoing investigation.
- Media outlets published additional, undisclosed messages — including a leaked note from chief secretary Darren Jones telling Mandelson he was “so sorry” — prompting the Conservatives and the SNP to demand further probes and possible enforcement of the parliamentary humble address.
- The Cabinet Office has opened a review of non-corporate communications and record-keeping rules after the release, and the disclosure exercise cost about £1 million as MPs debate whether ministers complied fully with transparency obligations.