What is the controversy over Morgan McSweeney's stolen phone?

The government is facing questions after it emerged that the prime minister's former chief of staff's phone was stolen, leading to the likely loss of his messages with sacked US ambassador Lord Peter Mandelson.

The government-issued device was reported stolen after Mandelson's firing, but before parliament forced the government to publish all papers and communications relating to his appointment and time in office. However, the theft of a device containing so much sensitive information, as well as the feared loss of messages of which parliament has mandated the release, has raised a number of questions, particularly after the police admitted they took down the wrong address of the theft.

So what do we know about what has happened? Mr McSweeney's government-issued iPhone was stolen shortly before 22.30pm on 20 October, the Metropolitan Police has confirmed. This was a month after Lord Mandelson was sacked as ambassador to the US following the release of a cache of emails showing he had a much closer relationship with deceased paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein than previously known.

The police have taken the unusual step of releasing a transcript of Mr McSweeney's emergency call to police reporting the theft, which reveals confusion over where it actually occurred. Although Mr McSweeney said it was on "Belgrave Street in Westminster.