Politics · 9 February 2026
Starmer’s Leadership on the Line After Chief of Staff Resigns Amid Diplomatic Scandal
© UK Parliament / Maria Unger via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0)
British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is facing a political crisis after his chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, resigned over his role in advising Starmer to appoint Peter Mandelson as UK ambassador to the US—a choice that sparked outrage due to Mandelson’s documented links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The move has triggered growing calls for Starmer to answer for his judgment, with pressure mounting from MPs and political opponents.
Reported by Reuters · How we write briefs