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British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s chief of staff has resigned over Peter Mandelson’s appointment as ambassador to the United States after files revealed Mandelson’s relationship with the late Jeffrey Epstein.
Morgan McSweeney, a close aide to Mr Starmer, said in a statement on Sunday: “After careful consideration, I have decided to resign from the government. The decision to appoint Peter Mandelson was the wrong one. He has undermined faith in our party, our country and politics itself.”
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“I advised the Prime Minister to make that appointment and I take full responsibility for that advice,” he added.
Labor MPs had called for McSweeney to resign after new evidence about Mandelson’s relationship with Epstein emerged in the latest documents and photos released by the US Department of Justice in the investigation into the American financier. Lawmakers blamed Mr. McSweeney for the damage caused by Mr. Mandelson’s appointment and the publication of crude communications between him and Mr. Epstein.
Mr McSweeney, 48, a former protégé and friend of Mr Mandelson, was criticized by some Labor MPs and political opponents for failing to ensure proper background checks were carried out when appointing ambassadors.
Mr Starmer said in a statement on Sunday that it had been a “honour” to work with Mr McSweeney, who had held the role of chief of staff since October 2024.
mandelson’s reward
Mr Mandelson was sacked by Mr Starmer in September over his friendship with Mr Epstein, and last week he also left the Labor Party and the House of Lords, the upper house of the British parliament. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office said it was reviewing the severance payments made to him following his dismissal.
Mandelson, a central figure in British politics and the Labor Party for decades, was paid an estimated £38,750 to £55,000 ($52,000 to $74,000) for just seven months, the Sunday Times reported.
Documents released by the U.S. Department of Justice on January 30 appear to show that Mandelson is suspected of leaking confidential British government information to Epstein during his time as British minister, including during the 2008 financial crisis.
The Foreign Office said in a statement that it had begun a review of Mr Mandelson’s severance pay “in light of further information that has now come to light and the ongoing police investigation”.
Mr. Mandelson’s lawyer said that Mr. Mandelson “regrets believing Mr. Epstein’s lies about his criminality and will regret it until the day he dies.”
“Lord Mandelson did not discover the truth about Epstein until his death in 2019,” said a spokesperson for law firm Mishcon de Reya, which represents Lord Mandelson.
The law firm added: “We deeply regret that powerless and vulnerable women and girls were not given the protection they deserve.”
Is Starmer’s political future at risk?
Mr McSweeney’s resignation has thrown into question the future direction of the government, less than two years after Labor won one of the largest parliamentary majorities in modern British history.
It remains to be seen whether McSweeney’s resignation will be enough to silence his critics, with opinion polls showing Starmer is already deeply unpopular with voters and some within his own party openly questioning his judgment and future.
Cabinet minister Pat McFadden previously insisted Starmer should remain prime minister despite the “terrible mistake” in appointing Mandelson.
A close ally of Mr Starmer told the broadcaster the party should follow the prime minister.
“he [Starmer] We need to be realistic and accept that this is a terrible story and that this appointment was a terrible mistake,” Work and Pensions Secretary McFadden told BBC television.
He said the real responsibility “lies squarely with Peter Mandelson,” who offered himself for the job even though he was aware of the depth of his ties to Epstein.
However, the Sunday Telegraph reported that Mr Starmer’s deputy, David Lammy, became the first cabinet minister to distance himself from Mr Starmer.
The report said, citing friends of Mr Lamy, that the deputy prime minister did not support Mr Mandelson’s appointment because of his known ties to Mr Epstein.
