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Sir Keir Starmer’s right-hand man denied sending Lord Mandelson a “warm” message on the day he was sacked in a resurfaced clip. Leaked WhatsApp messages, which emerged on Thursday, show Darren Jones told the peer he was “so sorry” when he was fired as ambassador to the US and that he had been doing “such a great job” and “worked wonders” with Donald Trump.

But a few weeks ago, on the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme, the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister denied reports that he sent a “warm” message to Lord Mandelson. Mr Jones told the show: “No, I was asked what was going on in Downing Street.

“This was the week that I had just arrived as Chief Secretary, I don’t think I even had an office at the time.

“And I replied along the lines of I don’t know what’s happening, I’m not in the room, I’m sorry it all seems so difficult.

“And that was the exchange that I think has been referred to in the piece.”

He added: “I wouldn’t say it was warm and I didn’t know what was taking place, I just felt it was difficult at the time for everybody involved.”

In a message to Lord Mandelson published by The Spectator, Mr Jones is said to have written: “You’ve been doing such a great job, and you worked wonders with Trump. I’m so sorry about today.”

The message was not released this week as part of the latest tranche of documents related to Lord Mandelson’s appointment as US ambassador.

Mr Jones told the Commons that he was among those who did not have access to all messages either because of having used disappearing messages or because they had not been backed up when switching devices.

Downing Street said Sir Keir Starmer still has confidence in Mr Jones after the leaked message.