Keir Starmer’s WhatsApp messages automatically delete from his smartphone, Downing Street has confirmed, calling into question how full a picture emerged of his role in the appointment of Peter Mandelson from a recently released tranche of government documents.
Asked at a briefing whether Starmer uses the function on his WhatsApp messages, the prime minister’s spokesperson said he “does use disappearing messages”, adding that this was in line with official guidance on the use of so-called non-corporate communications.
On Monday, the government released nearly 1,500 pages of emails, messages and other documents about Mandelson’s appointment as ambassador to Washington, in response to a Conservative motion in the House of Commons seeking transparency on the decision.
Within the documents there were relatively few messages directly from Starmer, although this is also because most correspondence with prime ministers takes places via their officials.
The only WhatsApp messages between Mandelson and Starmer were a handful just before and just after the 2024 general election. Asked if there had been others lost as a result of disappearing messages – Mandelson declined to pass on information from his phone – the spokesperson said only that Starmer had provided all the information required.
“The prime minister has fully complied with the humble address by providing all the information he holds as required.
“You have seen messages from Peter Mandelson to the PM in this tranche, that is alongside multiple references via the prime minister’s private office, which is the standard and established route for communicating prime ministerial decisions and handling correspondence.”
Cabinet Office guidance on messaging systems such as WhatsApp, states that disappearing messages, which vanish after a period of time set by the user, “have a role in limiting the buildup of messages on devices” and can therefore be used.
“You must ensure that any such use does not impact on your record-keeping or transparency responsibilities,” the guidance continues. Under wider rules for ministers and officials, this involves screenshotting or otherwise recording messages relevant to policy or decisions, but not other content, for example gossip.
The government previously announced a review into how the rules for preserving messages operate.
Starmer and Mandelson are not close, and the limited WhatsApp messages shown in the released files show generally formal exchanges, so it is possible that not much material is missing.
But the Conservatives said the revelation about disappearing messages was alarming.
Alex Burghart, the shadow chancellor of the duchy of Lancaster, said: “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.
“The Conservatives have forced the government to hand over hundreds of documents that show just how shoddy Starmer’s government is. It’s clear even more have vanished.”
In contrast to Starmer, the files showed large numbers of messages between Mandelson and Pat McFadden, the work and pensions secretary, not all of them complimentary from McFadden about the government or Labour MPs.
Asked if Starmer still had confidence in McFadden, the spokesperson replied: “Yes.”
