{"id":1234,"date":"2026-02-08T23:50:29","date_gmt":"2026-02-08T23:50:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/?p=1234"},"modified":"2026-02-08T23:50:29","modified_gmt":"2026-02-08T23:50:29","slug":"mcsweeney-resigns-as-starmer-chief-of-staff-amid-mandelson-controversy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/?p=1234","title":{"rendered":"McSweeney resigns as Starmer chief of staff amid Mandelson controversy"},"content":{"rendered":"


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NEW<\/span>You can now listen to Fox News articles!\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Morgan McSweeney resigned Sunday as British Prime Minister Keir Starmer\u2019s chief of staff, stepping down amid mounting criticism over his role in advising the appointment<\/a> of Peter Mandelson as the United Kingdom\u2019s ambassador to the United States.<\/p>\n

In a resignation statement obtained by The Guardian<\/u><\/a>, McSweeney said the decision to appoint Mandelson was “wrong” and accepted full responsibility for recommending it, calling his departure the “only honourable course” under the circumstances.<\/p>\n

“He [Mandelson] has damaged our party<\/a>, our country and trust in politics itself,” the former chief of staff wrote, noting the decision to resign wasn\u2019t easy.<\/p>\n

McSweeney said the controversy had damaged public trust and called for a fundamental overhaul of the government\u2019s vetting and due-diligence process, while pledging his continued support for Starmer and the Labour government\u2019s agenda.<\/p>\n

UK PRIME MINISTER SUGGESTS FORMER PRINCE ANDREW SHOULD TESTIFY IN EPSTEIN INVESTIGATION<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

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Downing Street Chief of Staff Morgan McSweeney arrives for the annual Lord Mayor\u2019s Banquet at Guildhall in London, on Dec. 1, 2025.<\/span> (Chris J. Ratcliffe\/Reuters)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Emails and documents made public by the Justice Department in January show Mandelson maintained contact with Jeffrey Epstein after his 2008 conviction on two felony counts of soliciting prostitution, one of which involved a minor.<\/p>\n

The Associated Press reported<\/u><\/a> that newly surfaced documents indicate Mandelson may have passed along sensitive government information to Epstein in the period following the 2008 global financial crisis.<\/p>\n

The outlet also cited documents and financial records<\/a> indicating Epstein transferred a total of $75,000 in 2003 and 2004 to accounts connected to Mandelson or his husband, Reinaldo Avila da Silva.<\/p>\n

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British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, right, talks with Britain\u2019s ambassador to the United States Peter Mandelson during a welcome reception at the ambassador\u2019s residence in Washington, on Feb. 26, 2025.<\/span> (Carl Court\/Pool Photo via AP)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

BILL CLINTON COMES OUT SWINGING AGAINST COMER FOR REJECTING PUBLIC EPSTEIN HEARING: \u2018STOP THE GAMES\u2019<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Foreign Office minister Stephen Doughty told the<\/u><\/a> House of Commons on Sept. 11 that Starmer asked him to withdraw Mandelson as the UK\u2019s ambassador to the United States after emails showed Mandelson\u2019s relationship with Epstein was “materially different” from what was known at the time of his appointment.<\/p>\n

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

“In particular, Lord Mandelson\u2019s suggestion that Jeffrey Epstein\u2019s first conviction was wrongful and should be challenged is new information,” Doughty said. “In the light of that and mindful, as we all are, of the victims of Epstein\u2019s appalling crimes, Lord Mandelson has been withdrawn as ambassador with immediate effect.”<\/p>\n

Mandelson resigned from the Labour Party on Feb. 1.<\/p>\n

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Ashley Carnahan is a writer at Fox News Digital.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n


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