Morgan McSweeney Resigns as Chief of Staff Following Mandelson Appointment
Prime Minister Keir Starmer Appoints Joint Successors Amid Growing Pressure from Opposition and Backbench MPs
Carla Rooney
Morgan McSweeney has stepped down as Chief of Staff to Prime Minister Keir Starmer, taking responsibility for advice given on the appointment of Peter Mandelson.
McSweeney admitted he advised the Prime Minister to appoint Mandelson, a decision he now deems wrong.
He prepares to overhaul the vetting process, citing damage to the party, country, and trust in politics.
Keir Starmer has to take responsibility for his own terrible decisions.
The Prime Minister has appointed Vidhya Alakeson and Jill Cuthbertson as joint chiefs of staff to replace McSweeney.
McSweeney previously oversaw day-to-day operations at Number 10.
McSweeney's resignation comes after emails surfaced suggesting Mandelson may have leaked sensitive information to Epstein during his time as a minister in a previous Labour government.
A police investigation into alleged misconduct in public office has been initiated, focusing on these claims.
Lord Mandelson maintains he accurately answered all questions about his relationship with Epstein during the official vetting process.
The Prime Minister expressed gratitude for McSweeney's service, stating the party and country owe him a debt of gratitude.
However, Opposition Leader Kemi Badenoch claims McSweeney's departure was inevitable.
Badenoch argues that Starmer must take responsibility for his own decisions, saying, 'Keir Starmer has to take responsibility for his own terrible decisions.'
She suggests the Prime Minister is also on borrowed time.
Liberal Democrat MP Daisy Cooper notes that while the Prime Minister can change his advisers, the ultimate responsibility for government decisions rests with him.
Labour backbencher Brian Leishman calls for the Prime Minister to consider his own position, urging Starmer to follow McSweeney's lead by resigning.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage characterizes the situation as a continuation of political chaos, predicting Starmer will not remain in office long after the May elections.
The Prime Minister is scheduled to deliver an emergency address to Labour MPs.
He will discuss the fallout from the Mandelson revelations and outline how the government will learn from the appointment and vetting failures.
This address is expected to reassure MPs that the government policy agenda remains focused on the cost of living and national security, despite the leadership changes.
The departure of McSweeney follows the recent exits of other key advisors, including Paul Ovenden and Steph Driver.
This marks another fracture in Starmer's core team.
Pat McFadden defends the Prime Minister, stating that Starmer acted in good faith and was put in a difficult position by Lord Mandelson.
Former communications chief James Lyons notes that while McSweeney was a key figure in Labour's 2024 election victory, his departure makes Starmer's position more vulnerable.
The incident raises sharp questions about the vetting procedures for high-profile appointments.
The government's checks are facing intense scrutiny.