The chief of staff to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Morgan McSweeney, resigned on Sunday amidst controversy surrounding the appointment of Peter Mandelson as the United Kingdom’s ambassador to the United States due to his connections with Jeffrey Epstein. McSweeney admitted fault for advising Starmer to select Mandelson for the crucial diplomatic role in 2024.
In a statement, McSweeney acknowledged the error in appointing Mandelson, emphasizing the negative impact on their party, nation, and public trust in politics. The decision was made despite emerging documents from the extensive Epstein files in the U.S., which implied that Mandelson had shared sensitive market information with Epstein during his tenure as the U.K. government’s business secretary amid the 2008 financial crisis.
Facing mounting political pressure and scrutiny over his judgment, Starmer’s administration pledged to disclose internal communications and records related to Mandelson’s appointment to demonstrate discrepancies in Mandelson’s statements. Mandelson, a prominent figure in the Labour Party and a former cabinet minister and ambassador, has not faced any legal charges despite police searches at his London residence and a connected property last Friday.
Starmer had previously dismissed Mandelson from his ambassadorial role in September following earlier revelations of his ties to Epstein. However, renewed concerns have arisen following recent emails released by the U.S. Justice Department, raising questions about Starmer’s decision-making in appointing Mandelson initially. Critics argue that Starmer should have been more cautious in his selection process.