• •Downing Street confirmed Prime Minister Keir Starmer's WhatsApp messages are set to automatically delete
• •The practice is reportedly consistent with standard government security protocols for high-level officials
• •Critics argue the policy conflicts with open record-keeping requirements, though No. 10 maintains it complies with existing rules
• •It remains unclear whether these settings apply to all internal communication or only to specific, non-official channels

Downing Street has confirmed that Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s WhatsApp messages are configured to automatically delete. This practice follows similar controversies involving previous administrations, most notably the scrutiny faced by Matt Hancock during the pandemic. Critics argue that relying on disappearing messages undermines government transparency and accountability standards, though Downing Street insists the process aligns with standard data security protocols. Whether this approach obscures essential decision-making records remains a point of contention for parliamentary oversight bodies.