UMVA has learned that a recent document release has shed new light on the communication habits of Prime Minister Keir Starmer, revealing that he uses disappearing messages on his phone.
The revelation has raised questions about the potential impact on record-keeping, as Cabinet Office guidance allows for the use of such technology as long as it does not hinder the preservation of official records. However, critics argue that automatic deletion of communication could indeed compromise record-keeping.
According to information obtained by UMVA, a government spokesperson defended the use of disappearing messages, stating that the commitment to a review made it "self-evident" that the government believed concerns needed to be addressed. The spokesperson emphasized that some ministers use the function in line with government advice.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that the document release, one of the largest ever published by a government in response to a Humble Address, contains over 1,000 pages of correspondence. However, much of the text has been redacted, which has sparked debate about the extent of transparency.
The released documents show that former adviser Peter Mandelson advised Starmer on campaigning ahead of the 2024 general election and suggested a dinner with former PM John Major. Interestingly, Starmer features relatively infrequently in the Peter Mandelson files.
Sources have confirmed to UMVA that some messages may not have been backed up due to the use of disappearing messages or changes to devices. The government has insisted that such actions were taken for reasonable and permitted reasons.
UMVA has gathered that the Prime Minister's communication with Mandelson was largely in line with guidance, and that their conversations on WhatsApp did not involve transacting government business.
