UK leader’s chief of staff quits over appointment of Mandelson as ambassador despite Epstein ties

British Prime Minister’s Chief of Staff Resigns Over Epstein-Linked Diplomatic Appointment

Morgan McSweeney, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s chief of staff, resigned Sunday amid growing controversy over the appointment of Peter Mandelson as the UK’s ambassador to the United States. The resignation comes as Starmer faces intense scrutiny over his decision to appoint Mandelson despite the latter’s connections to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

“The decision to appoint Peter Mandelson was wrong. He has damaged our party, our country and trust in politics itself,” McSweeney stated in his resignation. “When asked, I advised the Prime Minister to make that appointment and I take full responsibility for that advice.”

The scandal erupted after newly released documents from a trove of Epstein files made public in the United States revealed that Mandelson allegedly shared market-sensitive information with Epstein during the 2008 financial crisis when Mandelson served as the UK’s business secretary.

Starmer, who took office earlier this year following Labour’s landslide victory, apologized this week for “having believed Mandelson’s lies.” The prime minister acknowledged that vetting had revealed Mandelson’s friendship with Epstein continued after Epstein’s 2008 conviction, but insisted that “none of us knew the depth of the darkness” of that relationship when the diplomatic appointment was made.

The Starmer government has promised transparency, pledging to release emails and documentation related to Mandelson’s appointment. Officials claim these documents will demonstrate that Mandelson misled the government during the vetting process.

Mandelson, 72, a former Cabinet minister and influential figure within the Labour Party, was fired from his ambassadorial post in September when earlier revelations about his Epstein connections surfaced. The latest disclosures have only intensified the political fallout.

The Metropolitan Police have launched an investigation, searching Mandelson’s London home and another property linked to him on Friday. The investigation centers on potential misconduct in public office, though Mandelson has not been arrested or charged with any offense, including sexual crimes.

Documents recently published by the U.S. Justice Department suggest Mandelson not only shared sensitive government information with Epstein after the 2008 financial crisis but also received payments totaling $75,000 in 2003 and 2004 from Epstein to accounts connected to Mandelson or his husband, Reinaldo Avila da Silva.

Opposition leaders have called for Starmer to take personal responsibility for the appointment. Kemi Badenoch, leader of the Conservative Party, stated, “Keir Starmer has to take responsibility for his own terrible decisions.”

This controversy marks a significant challenge for Starmer’s relatively young administration. McSweeney had been viewed as a central architect of Labour’s 2024 electoral triumph and a key adviser in Downing Street. His close alliance with Mandelson likely contributed to the mounting pressure for his departure.

Mandelson’s history of controversies predates the current scandal. He previously resigned twice from senior government positions over separate money and ethics scandals, raising further questions about the judgment exercised in offering him such a prestigious diplomatic post.

The scandal underscores the ongoing repercussions of Epstein’s vast network of influential connections. It also highlights the challenges of vetting high-profile appointments and the political consequences when those processes fail to uncover problematic associations.

In accepting McSweeney’s resignation, Starmer acknowledged his former chief of staff’s contributions to Labour’s electoral success but notably omitted any reference to the Mandelson affair, suggesting the prime minister may be attempting to distance himself from the scandal as investigations continue.