Pressure Mounts on Starmer to Dismiss Senior Adviser Over Mandelson Scandal
Sir Keir Starmer is facing escalating demands from within his own party to dismiss his most senior adviser, Morgan McSweeney, as the fallout from the Peter Mandelson scandal intensifies. Labour backbenchers have issued fresh calls for the Prime Minister to remove his chief of staff, whom they hold responsible for Lord Mandelson's controversial appointment as US ambassador despite the peer's connections to the convicted paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.
MPs Demand Clear Out at Number 10
Backbencher Simon Opher has called for a comprehensive "clear out at Number 10", stating publicly on the BBC's Today programme that if his chief of staff had overseen such an appointment, that individual would be seeking new employment. Veteran MP Clive Efford and Southport's Patrick Hurley have joined the chorus, with Hurley suggesting McSweeney should be reassigned to run the party's campaigns rather than remain in his government role.
These demands follow significant intervention from Labour's former deputy leader, Baroness Harriet Harman, who warned that Sir Keir must consider "a real reset" in Downing Street to salvage his premiership. While most MPs continue to express support for the Prime Minister personally, they are urging immediate changes to his backroom staff, with only a handful calling for Starmer's own resignation.
Starmer's Defence and Ongoing Investigations
The Prime Minister's official spokesman has confirmed that Sir Keir retains "full confidence" in Mr McSweeney. In a speech delivered on Thursday, Starmer defended his handling of the affair, accusing Lord Mandelson of lying during the vetting process for the ambassadorial position and offering an apology to Epstein's victims for believing these "lies". He insisted that "none of us knew the depth of the darkness" surrounding Mandelson's relationship with Epstein at the time of the appointment.
The full extent of what was known about this relationship is expected to be revealed when documents related to Lord Mandelson's appointment are published. This follows a parliamentary motion demanding the release of vetting papers, along with communications between Mandelson and ministers, and senior advisers both before and during his tenure as ambassador.
Document Release and Security Concerns
Sir Keir believes these files will substantiate his claim that Lord Mandelson deceived officials during vetting. However, the publication of communications with ministers and senior officials carries significant potential for government embarrassment. The release process may be protracted, as Parliament's Intelligence and Security Committee must review any documents the Government wishes to withhold for national security reasons, with no established timetable for these decisions.
Complicating matters further, the Metropolitan Police has requested certain documents be withheld, arguing their release could jeopardise an ongoing criminal investigation. This investigation centres on allegations that Lord Mandelson passed market-sensitive information to Epstein during his tenure as business secretary following the 2008 financial crisis.
Lord Mandelson, who has been approached for comment but has not yet spoken publicly, maintains through BBC sources that he did not act criminally and that his actions were not for personal gain. The unfolding scandal continues to dominate political discourse, with the Prime Minister's leadership and judgement under intense scrutiny.
