British Chief Of Staff Morgan McSweeney Quits After Mandelson Scandal.

London; February 2026: Keir Starmer’s chief of staff has QUIT as the Peter Mandelson crisis deepens. Morgan McSweeney said in a statement that stepping down was the “only honourable course” as the scandal engulfs No.10, Downing Street. Pressure has been mounting on Mr Starmer to remove his top aide as anger grows about Mandelson’s appointment.

McSweeney have 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”.

In recent days PM Starmer has stood by his chief of staff, who has become the focus of anger among Labour MPs. Mr McSweeney, 48, was appointed the PM’s chief in No10 in October 2024, having previously been Labour’s campaign manager.

The PM said: “It’s been an honour working with Morgan McSweeney for many years. 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”.

On Sunday morning Labour backbencher Dr. Rosena Allin-Khan hit out at a “boys club” who act with impunity inside No10, urging the PM to get rid of advisors. She said: “I do believe PM Starmer knew enough to make an informed decision to block the appointment of Peter Mandelson, which should have happened at the outset. But I think someone needs to take responsibility, and a lot of responsibility needs to lie with people who advise him. It is well known that there is a boys club in number ten of people who feel as though they can act with impunity”.

But just hours before the resignation, Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden attempted to hose down demands for Mr McSweeney to go. He said: “I don’t think he should. In the end, it’s a Prime Ministerial, well signed off by the King, but it’s a prime ministerial appointment. And Prime Minister have to take responsibility for the decisions that they make. Perhaps I say this as someone who was a former staffer, as they say, in No10. And yes, you know, I don’t know the advice and that was given. But in the end, it’s a prime ministerial appointment. I think this stuff about Morgan McSweeney is sort of beside the point”.

PM Starmer is fighting for his political future as anger mounts over Mandelson. In a fiery speech last week, he accused the New Labour heavyweight, who had resigned from the House of Lords last week – of lying before he was appointed to the plum job in Washington.

He was sacked in September after emails released by the US Department of Justice revealed he had coached Epstein after he was convicted of procuring a child for prostitution in 2008. And just over a week ago new emails emerged suggesting Mandelson had leaked confidential information to his pal in the wake of the 2008 financial crash.

On Friday police searched his homes in London and Wiltshire over allegations of misconduct in public office. The scandal has raised questions about the PM’s judgement and there have been calls for him to step down.

McSweeney have further stated: “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”.

Earlier Steve Wright, general secretary of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU), urged MPs to remove the Prime Minister. Mr Wright told the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg: “I think there needs to be a leadership change, and I think MPs need to be calling for that and trigger it”.

Team Maverick.