Morgan McSweeney: Starmer's chief aide quits over Mandelson row

Morgan McSweeney has resigned from his position as Sir Keir Starmer’s chief of staff amid intense scrutiny related to his involvement in the appointment of Lord Mandelson as the UK’s ambassador to the United States. The resignation follows growing concerns about McSweeney’s role in advocating for Mandelson’s selection, despite the well-known connection between the peer and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein at the time of the appointment.

Though McSweeney clarified that he did not manage the vetting process personally, he accepted “full responsibility” for recommending Lord Mandelson for the diplomatic post. This development poses a significant challenge for Sir Keir, who is already facing backlash from within the Labour Party for allowing the former minister’s appointment. The situation is further complicated by earlier actions: in September, Sir Keir dismissed Lord Mandelson after emerging emails showed the peer had sent supportive messages to Epstein while the financier faced sex offence charges.

Recent disclosures from the latest Epstein documents released in the US have intensified the controversy. These revelations indicate that Lord Mandelson maintained contact with Epstein even after his 2008 conviction, further angering Labour MPs. Additionally, emails suggesting Mandelson leaked sensitive government information to Epstein during his tenure in the last Labour government have triggered a police inquiry into alleged misconduct in public office. Despite Sir Keir’s claims that Mandelson’s prior relationship with Epstein was flagged during vetting, the prime minister maintains that the former minister misled him concerning the extent of their connection.

Calls for Sir Keir’s resignation have grown louder, with some Labour MPs openly demanding his departure. On the union front, Steve Wright, leader of the Fire Brigades Union and the first head of Labour’s affiliated unions to speak out, stated, “everybody’s thinking it,” referring to Starmer’s possible resignation. McSweeney’s departure marks a blow to Starmer’s team, given that the 48-year-old Irishman was instrumental in Starmer’s successful Labour leadership campaign in 2020, as well as the party’s preparations for the 2024 general election. Following McSweeney’s exit, Jill Cuthbertson and Vidhya Alakeson have been named acting chiefs of staff, according to Downing Street.

In a statement released on Sunday, McSweeney acknowledged that appointing Lord Mandelson in December 2024 was a mistake that “damaged our party, our country and trust in politics itself.” He reiterated that, although he did not oversee the vetting process, it requires fundamental reform, and that stepping aside was “the only honourable course.” It is understood that both the prime minister and McSweeney agreed that now was the appropriate time for the resignation. Sir Keir expressed gratitude, calling it an “honour” to have worked alongside McSweeney and acknowledging his role in revitalising the party after its significant defeat in 2019. Meanwhile, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch commented that McSweeney’s resignation was “about time” but emphasized that the prime minister must also be accountable for his own “terrible decisions.”

The statement from McSweeney came shortly after some Starmer allies dismissed internal calls for his removal. Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden told Laura Kuenssberg that firing McSweeney would not “make any difference at all” to the government’s predicament. He also urged Lord Mandelson to either return or donate the severance pay he received following his removal as ambassador, reportedly up to £40,000. The BBC reports that Mandelson maintains he answered vetting questions about his relationship with Epstein truthfully. Among newly released emails, some sent by Lord Mandelson during Gordon Brown’s Labour government suggest that he provided Epstein with advance warnings about significant government matters such as a €500 billion EU bailout in 2010 and shared an internal memo from 2009 concerning potential government asset sales after the financial crash. Mandelson has not responded to requests for comment but reportedly states he did not engage in criminal conduct nor was motivated by financial gain. He has resigned from the House of Lords, with the government committed to introducing legislation to strip him of his title

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