Morgan McSweeney resigns as Starmer’s chief of staff as he admits decision to appoint Mandelson was ‘wrong’

SIR Keir Starmer’s top aide Morgan McSweeney has today quit following days of pressure over the Mandelson scandal.

The Downing Street chief of staff fell on his sword amid demands for him to go from angry Labour MPs.

Mr McSweeney advised the PM to appoint Lord Mandelson as US Ambassador despite his well-known relationship with paedo Epstein.

His resignation will be viewed as a last-gasp attempt to save Sir Keir’s premiership that has been plunged into turmoil in recent weeks.

In his resignation letter, Mr McSweeney took “full responsibility” for the decision to appoint the disgraced Labour peer.

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.

“In public life responsibility must be owned when it matters most, not just when it is most convenient.

“In the circumstances, the only honourable course is to step aside.”

Mr McSweeney said Sir Keir retains his full support and that it has been the “honour of his life” to serve as his chief of staff.

He has served as the PM’s top aide since late 2024 after replacing the axed Sue Gray in the most senior adviser role.

Sir Keir hailed his former chief of staff’s “central role” in Labour 2024 general election campaign.

In a statement, the PM said: “It’s been an honour working with Morgan McSweeney for many years.

“He turned our party around after one of its worst ever defeats and played a central role running our election campaign.

“It is largely thanks to his dedication, loyalty and leadership that we won a landslide majority and have the chance to change the country.

“Having worked closely with Morgan in opposition and in government, I have seen every day his commitment to the Labour Party and to our country.

“Our party and I owe him a debt of gratitude, and I thank him for his service.”

He masterminded Labour’s general election campaign and was credited with banishing the hard left from the party.

But Mr McSweeney has been criticised for freezing out MPs and seeking advice from figures like Lord Mandelson, with whom he was close.

In recent days there has been a groundswell of calls from Labour MPs and grandees to sack Mr McSweeney over the scandal.

Leader of the Tory Party Kemi Badenoch said in response to the resignation: “It’s about time.

“But 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.”

And only this morning, Cabinet Minister Pat McFadden said that getting rid of Mr McSweeney would not help Sir Keir.

The departing chief of staff said: “As I leave I have two further reflections: Firstly, and most importantly, we must remember the women and girls whose lives were ruined by Jeffrey Epstein and whose voices went unheard for far too long.

“Secondly, while I did not oversee the due diligence and vetting process, I believe that process must now be fundamentally overhauled. This cannot simply be a gesture but a safeguard for the future.”

Sir Keir issued a grovelling apology for hiring Mandelson, but said he was not aware of the “depth and the darkness” of his relationship with Epstein.

But ex-PM Gordon Brown warned Keir Starmer is facing a “serious” threat to his leadership, saying the Labour leader had been “too slow” to act.

And Sir Keir’s right-hand man David Lammy reportedly warned the Prime Minister against appointing Mandelson last February.

It is understood the Deputy PM David Lammy, then-Foreign Secretary, instead favoured keeping Dame Karen Pierce on as the US Ambassador.

Mr McSweeney continued: “This has not been an easy decision.

“Much has been written and said about me over the years but my motivations have always been simple.

“I have worked every day to elect and support a government that puts the lives of ordinary people first and leads us to a better future for our great country.

“Only a Labour government will do that. I leave with pride in all we have achieved mixed with regret at the circumstances of my departure.

“But I have always believed there are moments when you must accept your responsibility and step aside for the bigger cause.

“I remain fully supportive of the Prime Minister. He is working every day to rebuild trust, restore standards and serve the country.

“I will continue to back that mission in whatever way I can. It has been the honour of my life to serve.”

Starmer has blamed the security services for not sufficiently vetting the Labour peer’s past relationship with the American paedophile.

Many of his own MPs are out for blood after he admitted knowing Lord Mandelson remained pals with Epstein when he made him US ambassador.

In a keynote speech, Sir Keir desperately tried to contain his raging leadership crisis by apologising to the victims of the sex offender.

Mandelson himself is facing calls to hand back his five-figure payout after being sacked as US Ambassador.

Lord Mandelson is thought to have received up to £55,000 of taxpayers money when he was fired from his Washington posting last year.  

He was let go from the post after his links to the paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein were uncovered.

Welfare Secretary Pat McFadden today urged Lord Mandelson to hand back the money or give it to a women and girls’ charity.

He told the BBC: “I think Peter should reflect on that and either return it or give it to an appropriate charity.”

His friendship with Epstein has been back in the spotlight following fresh allegations he leaked the financier sensitive government information.

He is now facing a police investigation for misconduct in a public office relating to the alleged leaks in 2009 when he was Business Secretary.