Sir Keir Starmer is facing growing calls to resign after his chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, quit Downing Street following backlash over the appointment of Lord Mandelson as Britain’s ambassador to the US.
Mr McSweeney resigned on Sunday after giving what was described as “wrong” advice to appoint Lord Mandelson, despite warnings from civil servants about the peer’s ties to Jeffrey Epstein.
Sir Keir praised his departing aide, saying: “It’s been an honour working with Morgan McSweeney for many years. It is largely thanks to his dedication, loyalty and leadership that we won a landslide majority and have the chance to change the country.”
However, Labour MPs and trade unions said the resignation does not go far enough. Kim Johnson MP said “the buck stops” with Sir Keir and described his position as “untenable”. Ian Byrne MP said: “The PM must now reflect honestly on his own position and ask whether, for the good of the country and the Labour Party, he should follow McSweeney’s lead.”
Political opponents also called for Sir Keir to go. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said: “It’s about time. But once again with this PM it’s somebody else’s fault: ‘Mandelson lied to me’ or ‘Morgan advised me’. Keir Starmer has to take responsibility for his own terrible decisions. But he never does.”
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said: “As predicted, McSweeney has gone. Labour are just continuing the chaos we saw under the Tories. My money says Starmer won’t be far behind after Labour’s disaster in the elections this coming May.”
The Prime Minister is expected to meet Labour MPs today in a bid to shore up support, as Labour braces for key electoral tests later this month and in May.