Sir Keir Starmer still has confidence in one of his top aides, despite leaked messages showing he consoled Lord Mandelson after he was fired.

The Spectator magazine has obtained messages between Darren Jones, a Starmer loyalist, and Peter Mandelson. 

When Starmer fired the Labour peer for his links to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein last Septmeber, Jones texted him: “You’ve been doing such a great job, and you worked wonders with Trump. 

“I’m so sorry about today.”

Asked whether the PM retains confidence in Jones this lunchtime, a spokesperson for the prime minister replied: “Yes.”

It’s understood Jones’s messages were not released in either batch of the Mandelson files, as they were on an old phone and therefore not submitted. 

It’s also kindled a row over disappearing messages on the social media app WhatsApp, which senior ministers have used.

It raises the possibility there are further messages yet to be released. 

Yesterday, Jones apologised to MPs for his relationship with Mandelson.