UK PM's Chief of Staff Quits Over Mandyson's Ties to Epstein, Damaging Labour Party and Trust in Politics.
In a shocking move, the UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer's chief of staff Morgan McSweeney has quit over the appointment of Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the US. The decision comes after files revealed the extent of Mandelson's relationship with late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, raising serious questions about the Labour Party and its handling of sensitive information.
McSweeney took full responsibility for advising the Prime Minister on the appointment, saying that he had "advised the Prime Minister to make that appointment". However, he also acknowledged that he had failed to ensure proper background checks were conducted before Mandelson was appointed. This criticism has been echoed by some Labour members of parliament who blamed McSweeney for the damage caused by the publication of crude exchanges between him and Epstein.
The scandal has sparked a wave of controversy within the Labour Party, with some lawmakers calling for McSweeney's resignation over the appointment of Mandelson. The departure of McSweeney has thrown the future direction of the government into doubt, less than two years after the party won one of the largest parliamentary majorities in modern British history.
Mandelson was sacked by Starmer in September due to his friendship with Epstein and last week also quit the Labour Party and House of Lords. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is reviewing an exit payment made to him after he was fired, which has been estimated to be between $52,000 and $74,000.
As the scandal continues to unfold, Starmer's political future remains under scrutiny. With polls showing that the Prime Minister is already hugely unpopular with voters, some in his own party are openly questioning his judgment and future. However, a close ally of the Prime Minister has defended him, saying that he should remain in office despite his "terrible mistake" in appointing Mandelson.
The close Starmer ally told broadcasters that the party should stick with the Prime Minister, but it remains to be seen whether this will be enough to silence his critics. The departure of McSweeney has marked a significant turning point for the Labour Party, and its ability to recover from this scandal will be closely watched by voters and observers alike.
In a shocking move, the UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer's chief of staff Morgan McSweeney has quit over the appointment of Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the US. The decision comes after files revealed the extent of Mandelson's relationship with late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, raising serious questions about the Labour Party and its handling of sensitive information.
McSweeney took full responsibility for advising the Prime Minister on the appointment, saying that he had "advised the Prime Minister to make that appointment". However, he also acknowledged that he had failed to ensure proper background checks were conducted before Mandelson was appointed. This criticism has been echoed by some Labour members of parliament who blamed McSweeney for the damage caused by the publication of crude exchanges between him and Epstein.
The scandal has sparked a wave of controversy within the Labour Party, with some lawmakers calling for McSweeney's resignation over the appointment of Mandelson. The departure of McSweeney has thrown the future direction of the government into doubt, less than two years after the party won one of the largest parliamentary majorities in modern British history.
Mandelson was sacked by Starmer in September due to his friendship with Epstein and last week also quit the Labour Party and House of Lords. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is reviewing an exit payment made to him after he was fired, which has been estimated to be between $52,000 and $74,000.
As the scandal continues to unfold, Starmer's political future remains under scrutiny. With polls showing that the Prime Minister is already hugely unpopular with voters, some in his own party are openly questioning his judgment and future. However, a close ally of the Prime Minister has defended him, saying that he should remain in office despite his "terrible mistake" in appointing Mandelson.
The close Starmer ally told broadcasters that the party should stick with the Prime Minister, but it remains to be seen whether this will be enough to silence his critics. The departure of McSweeney has marked a significant turning point for the Labour Party, and its ability to recover from this scandal will be closely watched by voters and observers alike.