Labour MPs Demand Starmer's Resignation After Chief of Staff Quits Over Mandelson Scandal
Labour MPs have called for Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to stand down following the resignation of his chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, over the escalating Peter Mandelson scandal. McSweeney stepped down after pushing for the appointment of Lord Mandelson as Britain's ambassador to the United States, an appointment that has plunged the government into crisis.
McSweeney's Departure and Internal Party Backlash
Morgan McSweeney, who had been one of Sir Keir's closest aides for nearly six years and was instrumental in Labour's 2024 election victory, resigned today. His departure has not been universally mourned within the party. One anonymous Labour MP stated, 'I won't be shedding a tear that he's gone. He's the very worst of our party, every decision he's taken is to bolster himself and wage a war of factionalism.' The MP added, 'The buck ultimately stops with the PM. All this has done has bought him a little more time but he's mortally wounded and it's not if, it's when he goes.'
Sir Keir has been a loyal defender of McSweeney, but many Labour MPs now believe the Prime Minister should follow his aide out of the door. Brian Leishman, Labour MP for Alloa and Grangemouth, said, 'There must be a change in political direction and that comes from the very top. So the Prime Minister must look at his own position and question whether he should follow McSweeney’s lead one last time, and resign for the good of the country and the Labour Party.'
Jon Trickett, Labour MP for Normanton and Hemsworth, also urged Sir Keir to 'reflect carefully on his judgment' in appointing both McSweeney and Mandelson. He remarked, 'I believe Morgan McSweeney would inevitably have to resign. But the buck stops at the top, and the PM needs to reflect carefully on his judgement about appointing both Mandelson and McSweeney.'
The Mandelson Scandal and Its Fallout
Sir Keir is facing the worst crisis of his 18-month premiership following fresh revelations about Lord Mandelson's friendship with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. Mandelson was appointed as Britain's ambassador to the US in February 2025 but was sacked in September last year over his links to Epstein. Newly-released documents, known as the 'Epstein files', have revealed further details about their relationship, leading to a Metropolitan Police investigation into allegations that Mandelson sent market-sensitive information to Epstein while serving as business secretary.
In his resignation statement, McSweeney admitted that naming Mandelson as Britain's top diplomat in Washington DC was 'wrong'. He said, 'After careful reflection, I have decided to resign from the Government. The decision to appoint Peter Mandelson was wrong. He has damaged our party, our country and trust in politics itself. When asked, I advised the Prime Minister to make that appointment and I take full responsibility for that advice.'
Political Repercussions and Leadership Speculation
The loss of McSweeney, who was the architect of Sir Keir's general election victory, is a significant blow to the Prime Minister's increasingly fragile grip on power. McSweeney's resignation is seen as a desperate bid by Sir Keir to retain power, with former deputy PM Angela Rayner reportedly on leadership 'manoeuvres'. Other potential replacements for Sir Keir include Health Secretary Wes Streeting, Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, Armed Forces minister Al Carns, and Labour deputy leader Lucy Powell.
Steve Wright, general secretary of the Fire Brigades Union, publicly called for the Prime Minister to quit, while Pat McFadden, a key Cabinet ally, rejected calls for a no-confidence vote but acknowledged Sir Keir could go. McFadden stated, 'Why would we have a confidence vote when he won a general election 18 months ago? He should carry on with what he's doing.' However, he also noted that Lord Mandelson should return his five-figure severance payout or donate it to a charity.
Public Opinion and Polling Data
New polling from Opinium reveals a fresh slump in Sir Keir's approval ratings. The poll found that 55% of the public think Sir Keir should resign, with only 23% believing he should remain in post. His approval rating stands at -44, making him more unpopular than other major party leaders. Additionally, 56% of the public believe Sir Keir should have anticipated the controversy before appointing Mandelson.
James Crouch, head of policy and public affairs at Opinium, commented, 'The deepening fallout from the Mandelson appointment has pushed Starmer's rating even lower, with most voters now questioning his judgement on the appointment and placing equal blame on the prime minister and his advisers.'
Opposition Criticism and Further Developments
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch accused Sir Keir of trying to shift blame for the Mandelson appointment onto McSweeney, saying, '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 suggested Sir Keir 'won't be far behind' in departing after local elections in May.
In further developments, No10 confirmed that Jill Cuthbertson and Vidhya Alakeson will jointly serve as acting chiefs of staff with immediate effect. The Metropolitan Police investigation into Mandelson is ongoing, with Deputy Assistant Commissioner Hayley Sewart stating it will 'take some time' due to its complexity.
Labour peer Ayesha Hazarika claimed a 'male power structure' was why the party had been 'so seduced' by Mandelson over the years, suggesting he was appointed to navigate 'slightly tawdry circles' associated with US President Donald Trump. The Conservatives have called for a no-confidence vote in the Prime Minister, with senior Tory MP Alex Burghart stating Sir Keir's position is 'not tenable'.
