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Keir Starmer's chief of staff quits over Mandelson

Author
Newstalk ZB ,
Publish Date
Mon, 9 Feb 2026, 6:09am
Labour MPs are urging British Prime Minister Keir Starmer to sack Lord Peter Mandelson over his past ties to Jeffrey Epstein. Photo / Getty Images
Labour MPs are urging British Prime Minister Keir Starmer to sack Lord Peter Mandelson over his past ties to Jeffrey Epstein. Photo / Getty Images

Keir Starmer's chief of staff quits over Mandelson

Author
Newstalk ZB ,
Publish Date
Mon, 9 Feb 2026, 6:09am

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer's chief of staff has quit - claiming he's responsible for advising Starmer to appoint Peter Mandelson as US ambassador. 

Morgan McSweeney's position had been in doubt - after emails revealed Mandelson’s relationship with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Mandelson's facing a criminal investigation - into claims he'd passed sensitive information to Epstein. 

UK correspondent Mike Pearse told Ryan Bridge the scandal has Starmer's popularity waning. 

He says a new poll reveals Starmer has the support of fewer than one in five people in the UK - with some of his own MPs saying it's a matter of time before he pays the price. 

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