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More than 100 government-issued mobile phones had all their data wiped last year after their users entered the wrong PIN.

The Treasury’s IT desk managed to reset 117 of its approximately 2,100 mobile phones in 2020 – including the device belonging to the department’s boss – a response to a Freedom of Information request from the PA news agency revealed.

Texts sent from the phones involved are likely to have been lost.

All eyes on the Treasury as Rishi Sunak's 2021 Budget draws closer
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Messages lost include those sent between the Treasury’s permanent secretary Tom Scholar and former prime minister David Cameron

They include correspondence between the Treasury’s permanent secretary Tom Scholar and former prime minister David Cameron over the Greensill lobbying scandal.

MPs have called for these messages to be released.

Mr Cameron had contacted Treasury officials to ask them to allow the company Greensill Capital, which has since collapsed, to be included in one of the government’s coronavirus loan schemes.

MPs have said publishing the texts is in the “public interest”.

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But Mr Scholar has maintained that he is unable to disclose the content of his messages to Mr Cameron, due to his phone having been wiped and questions continue to be raised.

“At the beginning of June last year, (the phone) had to be reset because, under government security as applies to mobile phones, if the password is incorrectly entered more than a few times, the phone is locked, and the only way to unlock it is to reset it,” Mr Scholar told a hearing of the Treasury select committee.

Matt Hancock and Gina Coladangelo, pictured in May
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Reports have suggested that Matt Hancock used a private email for government business

He added: “Resetting it means that the data on it is lost. I knew that when it happened last June, and I am certainly not the only person to whom that has happened.”

Users of government phones are required to change their passwords frequently, however the Treasury has not confirmed how often these changes are required.

The government has recently come under increased scrutiny over its transparency procedures, with the Good Law Project last week announcing that it would take legal action over ministers’ use of private email addresses and WhatsApp accounts to do government work.

In the wake of former health secretary Matt Hancock’s resignation following his breaking of COVID rules with an aide, it had been reported that he and health minister Lord Bethell had used private email accounts to conduct government business.

The Sunday Times reported that Lord Bethell used personal emails to sponsor a parliamentary pass for Mr Hancock’s lover Gina Coladangelo between April and October last year.

Labour has called for an investigation into the matter.

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Crypto treasuries top $100B for Ethereum’s 10th anniversary: Finance Redefined

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Crypto treasuries top 0B for Ethereum’s 10th anniversary: Finance Redefined

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Ethereum’s 10th anniversary celebration was marked by an uptick in institutional demand for Ether as an alternative treasury reserve asset, prompting Wall Street to look past Bitcoin.

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Hong Kong stablecoin stocks slide as new rules take effect, experts see healthy reset

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Chancellor Rachel Reeves dodges wealth tax calls from predecessor

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Chancellor Rachel Reeves dodges wealth tax calls from predecessor

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has dodged calls from her predecessor Anneliese Dodds for a wealth tax to be considered ahead of this autumn’s budget.

When Sir Keir Starmer became Labour leader in 2020, Ms Dodds was his first pick for shadow chancellor. However, she did not last long and was replaced by Ms Reeves, who then got the government job after last year’s election win.

Speaking to the Sky News political editor Beth Rigby on the Electoral Dysfunction podcast, Ms Dodds said she had examined wealth taxes when she was briefly in the shadow chancellor job and how one could be implemented.

She said: “I would hope the Treasury is considering that kind of evidence, as well as other changes that have been put forward.”

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‘Rachel Reeves would hate what you just said’

Asked today if about Ms Dodds’ intervention, Ms Reeves said: “Decisions around tax are decisions that are made at a budget and we’ll make those decisions in the appropriate way, but the number-one priority of this government is to grow the economy.

“And that means bringing more investment into Britain, creating more good jobs paying decent wages here in Britain.

Listen here to hear Ms Dodds’ full comments:

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“We’ve got to get the balance right on taxation because we want that investment, we want those jobs to come here.

“That’s why we’re reforming the planning system, secured three trade deals in the first year of this Labour government, cutting back on unnecessary regulation, and reforming our pension system to unlock money for businesses to be able to invest here in the UK.”

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Dodds resigns from govt over aid cut

What is a wealth tax?

The government’s financial position is stretched ahead of the next budget, due at the end of autumn.

Ms Reeves has committed herself to not changing her fiscal rules, leaving little wiggle room to avoid tax rises or spending cuts.

This is due to the government’s inability to save money through policies like welfare reform, which were gutted due to a rebellion of backbench Labour MPs.

Last week, Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds branded the suggestion of a wealth tax “daft” – but he has less influence over the writing of the budget than the chancellor.

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Meanwhile, reports from the Daily Telegraph suggested that Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner backed increasing taxes, including reinstating the pensions lifetime allowance and a higher corporation tax level for banks.

Ms Dodds also wants to see those considered.

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