Morgan McSweeney quits as Keir Starmer's chief of staff amid Mandelson row

Sir Keir’s right-hand man - who is married to Scottish Labour MP Imogen Walker - had faced intensifying calls from within the Labour Party to go after being blamed by many for pushing the appointment of Lord Mandelson as ambassador to the US.

The peer was sacked last year over his relationship with paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.

But anger in Westminster has intensified after the latest release of documents which showed he leaked information to his friend – with whom he stayed close after his conviction for child sex offences – while he was a government minister.

In a statement, Mr McSweeney said the decision to appoint Lord Mandelson to the top diplomatic job was “wrong”, and said he took “full responsibility” for advising Sir Keir Starmer to go ahead.

Read more: Who is Morgan McSweeney? Keir Starmer's right hand man who has quit

Mr McSweeney said: “After careful reflection, I have decided to resign from the Government. The decision to appoint Peter Mandelson was wrong. He has damaged our party, our country and trust in politics itself.

“When asked, I advised the Prime Minister to make that appointment and I take full responsibility for that advice. In public life responsibility must be owned when it matters most, not just when it is most convenient. In the circumstances, the only honourable course is to step aside.

“This has not been an easy decision. Much has been written and said about me over the years but my motivations have always been simple: I have worked every day to elect and support a government that puts the lives of ordinary people first and leads us to a better future for our great country. Only a Labour government will do that.

“I leave with pride in all we have achieved mixed with regret at the circumstances of my departure. But I have always believed there are moments when you must accept your responsibility and step aside for the bigger cause.

“As I leave I have two further reflections.

“Firstly, and most importantly, we must remember the women and girls whose lives were ruined by Jeffrey Epstein and whose voices went unheard for far too long.

“Secondly, while I did not oversee the due diligence and vetting process, I believe that process must now be fundamentally overhauled. This cannot simply be a gesture but a safeguard for the future.

“I remain fully supportive of the Prime Minister. He is working every day to rebuild trust, restore standards and serve the country. I will continue to back that mission in whatever way I can. It has been the honour of my life to serve.”

Sir Keir said it had been “an honour” working with Mr McSweeney.

He said: “He turned our party around after one of its worst ever defeats and played a central role running our election campaign. It is largely thanks to his dedication, loyalty and leadership that we won a landslide majority and have the chance to change the country.

“Having worked closely with Morgan in opposition and in government, I have seen every day his commitment to the Labour Party and to our country. Our party and I owe him a debt of gratitude, and I thank him for his service.”

Labour MP for Alloa and Grangemouth Brian Leishman said it was time for Sir Keir to follow Mr McSweeney’s lead.

Mr Leishman said: “Morgan McSweeney’s resignation as Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister is in the best interests of the Government. He was at the heart of the political mis-judgements and errors that have been made since winning the General Election.

“It is also in the best interests of the Labour Party as he was instrumental in the lack of internal democracy and the culture of intense factionalism we are suffering from.

“There must be a change in political direction and that comes from the very top, so the Prime Minister must look at his own position and question whether he should follow McSweeney’s lead one last time, and resign for the good of the country and the Labour Party.”

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch welcomed Mr McSweeney’s departure, but said the Prime Minister should “take responsibility” for his actions.

She said on X: “It’s about time. But once again with this PM it’s somebody else’s fault: ‘Mandelson lied to me’ or ‘Morgan advised me’.

“Keir Starmer has to take responsibility for his own terrible decisions. But he never does.”

SNP Westminster Leader Stephen Flynn MP said: “Whenever Keir Starmer makes a catastrophic error of judgement, someone else is always forced to carry the can.

“It won’t wash with voters this time. Advisers only advise. It was Keir Starmer who showed appalling personal judgement in appointing Peter Mandelson, despite knowing about his links to Jeffrey Epstein. This is entirely on him.

“Keir Starmer’s time in office has been beset by a constant stream of bad judgements, broken promises, scandals and failure. Voters have lost confidence in him and want him to go.

“With his own MPs calling for him to quit, Starmer is a lame duck leader. He should take personal responsibility and follow Morgan McSweeney out the door before he does any more damage.”

Labour MP for Glasgow South Gordon McKee said Mr McSweeny’s resignation was a blow for the party.

Mr McKee said: “Morgan McSweeney made a mistake on Mandelson, as he said, but he is not alone in that. What he is alone in is his extraordinary ability. Morgan started as a receptionist, and rose up to almost single-handedly mastermind our return from the wilderness to a Labour Government.

“As a member of staff he doesn't get to rebut the nonsense that is said about him. I have known him personally for six years, and he is one of the most decent people that I've ever met in politics. He is thoughtful, kind and extremely clever.

“Like me, I know he will be appalled by the revelations about Peter Mandelson and thinking of the victims of Epstein's horrific crimes.

“On my first day working for the party in 2020, I spoke to him on the phone. He was almost alone in Westminster in believing that Labour could recover in Scotland by the General Election. He was right.”