Morgan McSweeney resigned as chief of staff to British prime minister Keir Starmer on 2026-02-08. His departure followed controversy over the appointment of Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the United States. McSweeney stated he took full responsibility for advising Starmer to appoint Mandelson, asserting the decision had damaged trust in the Labour party, the country, and politics itself. He described the resignation as the honourable course in response to the fallout from the appointment.
The controversy was linked to emails revealing Mandelson’s ongoing relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted child sex offender. McSweeney acknowledged he had not overseen the due diligence and vetting process but called for a fundamental overhaul of such procedures. He also emphasized the need to remember the victims of Epstein, whose voices had been ignored for years.
McSweeney had served as a key political figure in Labour since the party’s 2024 election victory. His role had become increasingly untenable amid growing pressure within the party and from backbenchers. Some allies maintained he had only provided advice, not pushed for the appointment, and that Starmer had made the final decision. His exit was described as a major blow to Starmer, who had relied heavily on McSweeney’s political judgment.