Summary

Labour is grappling with a fresh wave of WhatsApp leaks, this time involving private chats between former Treasury deputy Darren Jones and former Labour architect Peter Mandelson. The messages, not part of the recent data dump, reveal internal disagreements over policy, personnel, and growth plans, raising concerns about undisclosed communications and anxiety within Keir Starmer's cabinet.

The Omitted Messages

The most striking exchange, from 11 September 2023, shows Mandelson sympathiing with Jones after Mandelson's removal from his informal advisory role due to Epstein connections. later messages discuss the handover of growth plans to key ministers and Jones' ambitions for Reynolds' job.

The Disappearing Messages Dilemma

Both Jones and senior Labour figures use WhatsApp's disappearing-message feature, which has now backfired. The omissions are not due to redaction but because the messages were never saved. Previous phone thefts by Keir's chief of staff and a cabinet minnister also resulted in lost messages.

What We Know and Don't Know

We know that Mandelson's phone,which might hold the missing chats, has not been handed over to the Cabinet Office. We don't know the full content of the missing messages or why they were not saved. We also don't know if Mandelson will cooperate in retrieving the chats.

The Ongoing Scandal

Allies of Starmer express anxiety that the scandal is far from over, with more leaks expected. Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden's exposed messages add to the growing tension within the party.