British Prime Minister Starmer is under pressure. Image: keystone
The scandal surrounding convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has consequences for British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s inner circle.
Feb 8, 2026, 6:22 p.mFeb 8, 2026, 6:26 p.m
In the affair surrounding former British minister Peter Mandelson’s Epstein contacts, Starmer’s chief of staff Morgan McSweeney announced his resignation on Sunday, according to consistent media reports.
McSweeney had therefore advised the Prime Minister to appoint former Economics Minister Mandelson as ambassador to the USA. “I take full responsibility for this,” McSweeney said in a statement published by the BBC. “The decision to appoint Peter Mandelson was wrong.” This damaged the Labor Party, the country and trust in politics.
Former Minister Mandelson (l.) has become a burden for Prime Minister Starmer (r.). Image: keystone
Mandelson is said to have had close contact with Epstein and, among other things, passed on sensitive information to the US businessman during the financial and economic crisis. The British police are investigating the former minister, who was appointed ambassador to the USA by Starmer around a year ago.
Calls for the Prime Minister to resign
That’s why the Prime Minister is also under pressure on the matter. In recent days there have been increasing calls for Starmer to resign. According to the PA news agency, Green Party leader Zack Polanski said on Saturday that Starmer must now resign and described Mandelson’s appointment as ambassador as a “catastrophic error of judgement”. “Starmer knew that Peter Mandelson was still friends with a known pedophile,” said Polanski. Nevertheless, he brought him in “because he knew he could whisper in Donald Trump’s ears.”
Mandelson lost his ambassadorship last year because of the Epstein scandal, and most recently he resigned from the ruling Labor party and gave up his seat in the upper house of parliament. But not only voices from the opposition, but also from his own party continue to blame Starmer for the wrong decision.
Commenting on McSweeney’s resignation, Starmer said it had been an honor to work with him for so many years, according to the BBC. “Our party and I owe him a great debt of gratitude.” McSweeney was instrumental in Labor’s landslide victory in the 2024 general election. Even Labor ministers did not see his withdrawal coming on Sunday. With the resignation of his chief of staff, is the prime minister himself out of the firing line? Hardly.
Starmer loses close confidante and important advisor
While McSweeney has long been a red flag for some Labor politicians, others are convinced that the resignation will do little good – on the contrary. Without the close advisor, on whose instincts Starmer has always relied, the prime minister would be in a worse position, the BBC quoted a Labor source as saying: “He wouldn’t be prime minister without Morgan, and I wonder whether he will be that way for much longer.”
Tory leader Badenoch calls for Starmer’s resignation. Image: keystone
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch had already called for Starmer’s resignation days ago. At X she wrote shortly after McSweeney’s announcement: “It was about time. But once again this Prime Minister is shifting the blame onto others.” Starmer must take responsibility for his terrible decisions. “But he never does.”
The right-wing populist Nigel Farage, leader of the Reform Party, commented on X: “As predicted, McSweeney is gone. Labor is just perpetuating the chaos we saw under the Conservatives.” He bet Starmer will soon follow McSweeney – if Labor loses the local elections in May.
Farage is the leader of the Reform Party.Image: keystone
In his farewell statement, McSweeney once again took the side of his future ex-boss: “He works every day to rebuild trust, restore standards and serve the country.” It is questionable whether the fiery plea for Starmer will be enough to keep him in office. (sda/dpa)