British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is grappling with a mounting political crisis following the resignation of his chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, on 8 February.
McSweeney stepped down amid intense scrutiny over the controversial appointment of former Labour veteran Peter Mandelson as the UK’s ambassador to the US, despite his ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
McSweeney quits
Morgan McSweeney, 48, took responsibility for advising Starmer to appoint Mandelson, 72, to Britain’s key diplomatic post in 2024, despite knowledge of his links to Epstein. “The decision to appoint Peter Mandelson was wrong. He has damaged our party, our country and trust in politics itself,” McSweeney said in a statement.
The resignation follows the release of a new set of Jeffrey Epstein files that revealed Mandelson’s past interactions with the convicted sex offender, including sharing market-sensitive information during his tenure as UK business secretary in the 2008 financial crisis.
Will Starmer quit?
McSweeney’s exit has placed Starmer squarely in the spotlight, with critics within his own party questioning his judgment. “It buys the PM time, but it’s still the end of days,” a Labour lawmaker told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Starmer has faced a series of public embarrassments and U-turns since becoming prime minister, with polls reflecting a sharp decline in his popularity. He recently apologised for “having believed Mandelson’s lies” and admitted, “none of us knew the depth of the darkness” in Mandelson’s relationship with Epstein.
Who is McSweeney?
Morgan McSweeney has been considered the architect of Starmer’s rise to power and a key strategist within the Labour Party. He joined as chief of staff in October 2024, following Sue Gray’s resignation.
During the Jeremy Corbyn years (2015–2020), McSweeney identified Starmer as the candidate best suited to wrest control back for the party and persuaded pro-Corbyn members to support him.
With McSweeney’s departure, Starmer loses his closest political adviser at a critical time, leaving the prime minister isolated amid growing calls for leadership change. Senior party figures have reportedly begun positioning themselves as potential successors.
Mandelson’s role and the Epstein files
Peter Mandelson, a former Cabinet minister and influential Labour figure, has not been arrested or booked in relation to Epstein. He was removed from the US ambassador post in September 2025 following the revelations. The newly released Epstein files show extensive correspondence, intensifying scrutiny over his political and financial dealings.
Starmer’s leadership in question
The political storm surrounding Starmer comes less than two years after the Labour Party secured one of the largest parliamentary majorities in modern UK history. Analysts suggest that with just 20 percent support from MPs, a leadership challenge could be launched, putting the prime minister in a precarious position.
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