Morgan McSweeney Resigns as Starmer’s Chief of Staff Amid Mandelson Appointment Fallout
LONDON — Morgan McSweeney, the Chief of Staff to Prime Minister Keir Starmer, has resigned from his position, citing his role in the controversial appointment of Peter Mandelson as the United Kingdom’s ambassador to the United States. In a statement released on Sunday, McSweeney assumed full responsibility for advising the Prime Minister to proceed with the appointment, a decision he acknowledged has caused significant reputational damage to the government.
“The decision to appoint Peter Mandelson was wrong,” McSweeney said in his resignation letter. “He has damaged our party, our country and trust in politics itself. When asked, I advised the Prime Minister to make that appointment and I take full responsibility for that advice.”
The resignation comes in the wake of intensifying backlash following the release of new emails by the U.S. Department of Justice. The correspondence revealed a closer relationship between Mandelson and the late disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein than was previously disclosed. The documents suggest that during his tenure as Business Secretary under Gordon Brown, Mandelson may have shared market-sensitive government information with Epstein.
Mandelson, who was appointed as the U.S. ambassador in 2024 following Labour’s general election victory, was removed from the diplomatic post in September 2025 after initial details of his ties to Epstein surfaced. However, the latest tranche of documents has reignited the scandal, leading to a Metropolitan Police investigation into potential misconduct in public office.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has faced mounting pressure from opposition MPs and within his own party regarding the vetting process that cleared Mandelson for the high-profile role. Starmer recently issued an apology to Epstein’s victims, stating he was unaware of the “depth and darkness” of Mandelson’s association with the financier at the time of the appointment.
McSweeney, often credited as the strategist behind Labour’s landslide electoral success, stated that stepping aside was the “only honourable course” to take. His departure marks a significant shake-up in Downing Street as the administration seeks to stabilize its standing amidst the ongoing inquiries.
“In public life, responsibility must be owned when it matters most, not just when it is most convenient,” McSweeney added. Downing Street has yet to announce a successor for the Chief of Staff role.
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* cbsnews.com
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* washingtonpost.com
* theguardian.com
* newstatesman.com
* irishtimes.com
* rnz.co.nz
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