UK’s Starmer Battles for Survival as Mandelson–Epstein Claims Erupt

Starmer lost his chief of staff on Sunday and is fast losing support from Labor MPs following the revelation of the relationship between former British Ambassador to Washington Peter Mandelson and late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Starmer will address Labor MPs behind closed doors later on Monday in a bid to rebuild some of his shattered authority.

The political storm stems from Starmer’s decision to appoint Mandelson to Britain’s top diplomatic post in 2024 despite knowing he had ties to Epstein.

Starmer fired Mandelson in September following the publication of emails showing that he maintained a friendship with Epstein after he was convicted in 2008 for sexual offenses involving a minor. Critics say Starmer should have known better than to appoint Mandelson, 72, whose career has been dotted with money and ethics scandals.

A new trove of Epstein files released in the United States has brought more details about the affair and new pressure on Starmer.

Starmer apologized last week for “believing Mandelson’s lies”.

He promised to release documents related to Mandelson’s appointment; The government said they would show that Mandelson misled authorities about his ties to Epstein.

Police are investigating Mandelson for possible misconduct in public office over documents suggesting he passed sensitive government information to Epstein fifteen years ago. The crime carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. Mandelson has not been arrested or charged and is not facing any allegations of sexual misconduct.

Starmer’s chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, resigned on Sunday and took responsibility for the decision, saying: “I recommended the Prime Minister make this appointment and I take full responsibility for that recommendation.”

McSweeney has been Starmer’s key lieutenant since he became Labor leader in 2020 and is considered a key architect of Labour’s landslide victory in July 2024. But some in the party blame him for a series of missteps since then.

Some Labor officials hope his departure will buy the prime minister time to rebuild trust in the party and the country. Senior MP Emily Thornberry said McSweeney had become a “divisive figure” and his departure brought an opportunity to start over.

He said Starmer was “a good leader in the sense that he’s strong and clear. I think he needs to step up a little more than he has so far.”

Others say McSweeney’s departure leaves Starmer weak and alone.

Opposition Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch said Starmer had “made bad decision after bad decision” and “his position is now untenable”.

Since taking office, Starmer has struggled to deliver promised economic growth, repair aging public services and ease living costs. He promised a return to honest government after 14 years of scandal-plagued Tory rule, but was beset by missteps and U-turns over welfare cuts and other unpopular policies.

Labor consistently lags behind the far-right UK Reform Party in opinion polls, and the party’s failure to improve had led to talk of a leadership battle even before Mandelson’s comments.

In Britain’s parliamentary system, prime ministers can change without the need for national elections. If Starmer is challenged or resigns, an election for the Labor leadership will be triggered. The winner will become the prime minister.

The Conservatives elected three prime ministers between 2019 and the 2024 national elections. One of them, Liz Truss, lasted only 49 days in office.

Starmer was elected on his promise to end the political chaos of the Conservatives’ final years in power. This was easier said than done.

Labor MP Clive Efford said Starmer’s critics should “be careful what you wish for”.

“I don’t think people accepted the changes in the prime minister when the Conservatives were in power,” he told the BBC. “This didn’t do them any good.”