Starmer’s Chief of Staff McSweeney Resigns over Mandelson Controversy

Morgan McSweeney. Image Credit: Thomas Krych/ Story Picture Agency/ Shutterstock via The Guardian

Morgan McSweeney has resigned as the Prime Minister’s chief of staff as Labour faces rising scrutiny after the recent Epstein files release.

McSweeney made a statement taking “full responsibility” for the appointment of Peter Mandelson, former UK ambassador to the US, whose friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has been pushed back into the public eye. 

He said “the decision to appoint Peter Mandelson was wrong. He has damaged our party, our country and trust in politics itself.” McSweeney claimed that “the only honourable course is to step aside.” 

Mandelson maintained his friendship with Epstein despite his conviction of soliciting prostitution and a minor in 2008, and photographs surfaced in 2024 of the two together on Epstein’s island. 

After the release of 3.5 million files in the Epstein case last week, emails suggest Mandelson, under the role of ambassador to the US, was illegally sharing sensitive government information with Epstein in 2009 following the financial crisis. 

In a statement last week, Sir Keir Starmer claimed that “it had been publicly known for some time that Mandelson knew Epstein, but none of us knew the depth and the darkness of that relationship.”  The Prime Minister has apologised for “having believed Mandelson’s lies and appointing him.” 

Tensions are rising in government as more and more officials call for Starmer’s resignation. Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has accused the PM of “stuffing government with hypocrites and paedophile apologists” and the Green Party leader Zack Polanski said “McSweeney needed to go, but so too does Starmer.” Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has said that “too many mistakes” have been made under Starmer’s rule. 

Despite accusations against Starmer’s judgement and leadership, the Prime Minister stated on February 10 that he will “never walk away” and made clear his intentions to lead his party into the next general election.