Morgan McSweeney, Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s chief of staff, stepped down on Sunday following intense political pressure. His resignation comes after days of controversy surrounding his recommendation of Peter Mandelson — a known associate of Jeffrey Epstein — for the post of Britain’s ambassador to the United States.
McSweeney, a long-standing protégé of Mandelson, issued a statement admitting, “The decision to appoint Peter Mandelson was wrong. He has damaged our party, our country, and trust in politics itself.”
He further clarified, “When consulted, I advised the Prime Minister to make that appointment, and I accept full responsibility for that recommendation.”
Calls for McSweeney’s resignation had been growing within the Labour Party for days. This escalation came after the U.S. Justice Department released emails exposing a far more intimate connection between Mandelson and Jeffrey Epstein — the infamous wealthy sex offender and disgraced financier who died by suicide in prison in 2019 — than was previously understood.
While this resignation might ease some of the pressure on Prime Minister Starmer, it could also intensify a rapidly unfolding scandal that jeopardizes his leadership of the Labour government, the first in 14 years.
Starmer had removed Mandelson from his diplomatic role in the U.S. in September, citing newly discovered information regarding his interactions with Epstein. However, the thousands of emails released on January 30th unveiled a friendship significantly deeper than Mandelson had ever admitted.
These documents also suggest that Mandelson, during his time as a government member in 2009, shared classified government information with Epstein. The leaked emails specifically mentioned a confidential economic memo intended for then-Prime Minister Gordon Brown.
In a June 2009 email to Epstein, he wrote, “Interesting note that’s gone to the PM.”
Mandelson resigned from the House of Lords following the release of these recent emails. Nevertheless, these fresh revelations have continued to destabilize British politics. Prime Minister Starmer was already struggling with historically low approval ratings and widespread discontent over the nation’s sluggish economy. Since the files emerged, some of his own Labour allies have publicly joined opposition figures in urging him to resign.
During a Thursday speech, the Prime Minister affirmed his commitment to his position, while also issuing an apology to the women victimized by Epstein. He publicly stated his regret for appointing Mandelson as ambassador.
Addressing the victims directly, Starmer said, “I am sorry. Sorry for what was done to you. Sorry that so many people with power failed you. Sorry for having believed Mandelson’s lies and appointed him.”
The Prime Minister’s speech did little to calm the widespread anger within the government. Over the weekend, more Members of Parliament demanded McSweeney’s resignation, pointing to his close relationship with Mandelson and his strong advocacy for Mandelson’s ambassadorship.
Even on Sunday morning, interviews with members of Starmer’s government suggested they believed McSweeney would not resign. However, just hours later, his statement unequivocally conveyed that continuing in his role was no longer a viable option.
He stated, “In public life, responsibility must be owned when it matters most, not just when it is most convenient. Under these circumstances, the only honorable course is to step aside.”
He concluded by affirming, “I remain fully supportive of the Prime Minister.”
McSweeney’s departure represents a significant setback for Starmer. As a key campaign strategist and later a high-ranking official at No. 10 Downing Street, he was instrumental in orchestrating Labour’s political comeback following years of Conservative Party dominance.
In a statement, Prime Minister Starmer acknowledged McSweeney’s impact: “He turned our party around after one of its worst ever defeats and played a central role running our election campaign. Our party and I owe him a debt of gratitude, and I thank him for his service.”
However, it remains uncertain whether Starmer’s political challenges are truly resolved.
Last week, the Prime Minister formally referred Mandelson to the police for potential criminal prosecution concerning his alleged mishandling of government information. The Metropolitan Police in London confirmed they are investigating, and over the weekend, they conducted searches at two of Mandelson’s properties.
A resolution to this ongoing investigation is not expected for several weeks, or possibly even longer.
Starmer and his team are also preparing for the impending release of another batch of documents: internal government communications detailing the decision to appoint Mandelson as ambassador in late 2024, just as President Trump was preparing to assume office.
Yielding to public pressure, Starmer agreed to release these communications, asserting that they would demonstrate Mandelson’s deception regarding the true depth of his friendship with Epstein.
These documents have been delayed partly due to efforts to redact any classified material or information that could compromise national security. A parliamentary committee is scheduled to review the documents once Starmer’s government makes them available.
Officials have indicated that at least some of these documents might be released within days.