Keir Starmer ally's bombshell texts to Mandelson revealed
Text messages between Darren Jones and Peter Mandelson requests for advice on ministerial reshuffles.
The Prime Minster’s close ally Darren Jones apologies to Peter Mandelson after he was sacked as US ambassador in messages that were not disclosed as part of a tranche of released documents.
Jones’s texts also included requests for advice on the reshuffle and comments about the then business secretary Jonathan Reynolds.
In the messages, reported by the Spectator, Mr Jones wrote to Mandelson: “You’ve been doing such a great job, and you worked wonders with Trump. I’m so sorry about today.”
In a previous message, the then chief secretary to the Treasury under Rachel Reeves told Mandelson that it did not “fill you with confidence” that Mr Reynolds and the former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner were in charge of the government’s growth plans along with Ms Reeves.
The chief secretary to the prime minister was one of the ministers who said they had nothing to release because they had previously deleted messages or changed phones.
Mr Jones also requested “thoughts/advice” about a proposed reshuffle and said he hoped to be appointed Business Secretary, Technology Secretary or Energy Secretary. He also said: “I also like MoD [Ministry of Defence] but think that’s unlikely.”
He added: “DBT [Department for Business and Trade] my preference – everyone fond of Jonny but perception that DBT not firing on full cylinders."
Jones is understood to have replaced his phone after he began his role at the Cabinet Office and took over responsibility for cybersecurity.
It comes as the Conservatives say the Government’s independent ethics adviser must investigate Sir Keir Starmer’s use of disappearing WhatsApp messages.
The Tories’ letter to Sir Laurie Magnus comes after a senior minister insisted the Prime Minister’s use of the function, which auto-deletes correspondences on the communications app, was not a “cover-up”.
The ethics watchdog must investigate whether Sir Keir has broken the ministerial code by not preserving his WhatsApp messages, shadow Cabinet Office minister Alex Burghart said in his letter to Sir Laurie.
He cited a section of the ministerial code which says ministers should use internal systems for “all Government business”, and are obliged to “keep accurate public records” when they use “non-corporate communication channels” for official business.
Mr Burghart’s letter continued: “At its heart, this is a tale about corrupt and predatory practices of Jeffery Epstein and his friends, and a style of behaviour in public life that is rotten to the core.
“In that light, I believe it would be timely for you to undertake an investigation into the conduct of the Prime Minister and his office. This should not be brushed under the carpet.”
