London, Thursday 5 February 2026. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is facing one of the most serious political crises of his leadership after Downing Street confirmed it retains “full confidence” in his chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, despite mounting pressure from within the Labour Party. The row follows the controversial appointment — and rapid withdrawal — of Peter Mandelson as UK ambassador to the United States, after renewed scrutiny of his past associations with Jeffrey Epstein. This is reported by The WP Times, citing The Guardian and parliamentary sources.
The episode has reopened questions about political judgment at the heart of government and intensified speculation about the prime minister’s authority. Senior Labour figures acknowledge that the affair has fuelled internal unease, while online interest in Keir Starmer’s future has surged as MPs and commentators weigh whether the fallout can be contained.
Responding to calls for McSweeney’s dismissal, the prime minister’s official spokesperson said at a Downing Street briefing that there was “full confidence” in the chief of staff. Several Labour backbenchers have privately blamed McSweeney for strongly backing Mandelson’s appointment and for failures in the vetting process. No 10 also confirmed that discussions have begun with the Intelligence and Security Committee about the possible release of documents relating to the appointment, stressing that any disclosure must not compromise an ongoing Metropolitan Policeinvestigation.
Internal criticism spilled into public view after Rachael Maskell, the MP for York Central, described Starmer’s position as “untenable” in an interview with BBC Radio York. She said MPs had been misled about what the prime minister knew at the time of Mandelson’s nomination and argued that the episode was “dishonourable” to parliament and to Epstein’s victims. Another Labour MP, speaking anonymously on BBC Radio 5 Live, said the crisis had been “terminal for months” and likened the leadership to “a patient who has stopped responding to treatment”.
Senior ministers have moved to close ranks. Housing secretary Steve Reed said Starmer and McSweeney were “safe in their jobs”, signalling that the cabinet is not yet prepared to force a reckoning. At the same time, Reed conceded that Mandelson had “conned everybody, including Keir Starmer”, underlining the scale of the political embarrassment.
Opposition parties have sought to capitalise on the turmoil. The Liberal Democrats have called for a vote of no confidence, arguing that prolonged instability risks paralysing government, while Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch accused the prime minister of ignoring security advice and presiding over an administration that is “in office, but not in power”.
For Starmer, the Mandelson affair has become a defining test of leadership, transparency and control. While Downing Street is projecting stability and resisting demands to remove McSweeney, the controversy has exposed deep unease within Labour and raised lasting questions about internal decision-making. With document disclosures pending and police inquiries continuing, the coming weeks will determine whether this remains a damaging but survivable scandal — or a genuine turning point in Keir Starmer’s premiership.
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