"British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's chief of staff has quit over the appointment of Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the United States after files revealed the extent of Mandelson's relationship with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. 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, Starmer's top aide Morgan McSweeney said in a statement on Sunday."
"I advised the Prime Minister to make that appointment and I take full responsibility for that advice, he added. Labour members of parliament had called for McSweeney's resignation after new evidence about Mandelson's relationship with Epstein was revealed in the latest tranche of documents and photos from the investigation into the American financier were released by the US Department of Justice."
"McSweeney, 48, who was a protege and friend of Mandelson, was accused by some Labour lawmakers and his political opponents of failing to ensure that there were proper background checks when the ambassador was appointed. In a statement on Sunday, Starmer said it had been an honour to work with McSweeney, who had held the role of chief of staff since October 2024."
Files and photos released by the US Department of Justice revealed the extent of Peter Mandelson's relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. Morgan McSweeney, Keir Starmer's chief of staff, resigned after advising the Prime Minister to appoint Mandelson and taking responsibility for that advice. Labour MPs called for McSweeney's resignation and blamed him for failing to ensure proper background checks, noting his protege and friend relationship with Mandelson. Peter Mandelson was sacked in September over his friendship with Epstein and subsequently quit the Labour Party and the House of Lords. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is reviewing an exit payment to Mandelson, estimated between 38,750 and 55,000 pounds.
Read at www.aljazeera.com
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