UK PM’s chief of staff quits over Mandelson fallout
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s private secretary, Morgan McSweeney, said in a statement that he resigned due to the intensified pressure on Starmer due to his decision to appoint Peter Mandelson as the US ambassador.
Starmer is facing what is seen as the biggest crisis in his 18 months in power over his decision to send Mandelson to Washington DC in December 2024. After the files showed the extent of Mandelson’s relationship with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
McSweeney, Starmer’s closest advisor and widely seen as one of the architects of Starmer’s success in the July 2024 elections in the United Kingdom, said in a statement that he was closely involved in Mandelson’s appointment.
By Morgan McSweeny After careful consideration, I have decided to resign from the government. The decision to appoint Peter Mandelson was wrong. It damaged the trust in our party, our country, and politics. I advised the Prime Minister to do this when asked… https://t.co/bP6egNlQlu— Sam Coates Sky (@SamCoatesSky) February 8, 2026
“The decision to appoint Peter Mandelson was wrong. It damaged trust in our party, our country and politics,” McSweeney said in a statement published by political reporters on X. he said.
“When asked, I recommended the Prime Minister make this appointment and I take full responsibility for that recommendation.”
Starmer fired Mandelson from his ambassadorship in September over previous revelations about his Epstein ties.
But critics say emails recently released by the US Department of Justice highlight serious concerns about Starmer’s decision.
They argue that he should have known better than appointing Mandelson in the first place.
Documents released as part of multiple Epstein files made public in the United States suggested that Mandelson sent market-sensitive information to the convicted sex offender while he was the UK government’s trade secretary during the 2008 financial crisis.
Starmer’s government has promised to release its own emails and other documents about Mandelson’s appointment, saying they would show Mandelson misled officials.
Mandelson, a former cabinet minister, ambassador and senior statesman of the ruling Labor Party, was not arrested or charged.
Opposition Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said X Starmer must “take responsibility” for his actions.
“It’s time. But once again, with this Prime Minister, it’s someone else’s fault: ‘Mandelson lied to me’ or ‘Morgan gave me advice’.”
“Keir Starmer has to take responsibility for his own terrible decisions. But he never does,” he said.
Starmer thanked McSweeney on Sunday for his “commitment, loyalty and leadership”.
with PA and PA
