British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, resigned on Sunday amidst controversy surrounding the appointment of Peter Mandelson as the United Kingdom’s ambassador to the United States. The decision to appoint Mandelson, who has ties to Jeffrey Epstein, is now under scrutiny.
McSweeney stated that he took responsibility for advising Starmer to appoint Mandelson to the important diplomatic role in 2024. He acknowledged that the appointment was a mistake, with Mandelson’s actions damaging the party, country, and public trust in politics. McSweeney emphasized that he advised the Prime Minister to make the appointment and accepted full responsibility for his counsel.
Starmer is currently facing backlash and questioning of his judgment following the release of documents from the Epstein files in the U.S. These documents suggest that Mandelson may have shared market-sensitive information with Epstein during his tenure as the U.K. government’s business secretary in the midst of the 2008 financial crisis.
In response to the controversy, Starmer’s government has pledged to disclose its own communications and records related to Mandelson’s appointment to demonstrate that Mandelson provided misleading information. Despite the scrutiny, Mandelson, a prominent figure in the Labour Party, has not faced any legal charges.
The Metropolitan Police conducted searches at Mandelson’s London residence and another associated property as part of a complex investigation requiring extensive evidence collection and analysis. Earlier in September, Starmer had dismissed Mandelson from his ambassadorial position following initial revelations about his connections to Epstein. The recent emails released by the U.S. Justice Department have further raised concerns about Starmer’s decision-making, with critics arguing that he should have been more cautious in appointing Mandelson.