#Downing Street

#Downing Street

Morgan McSweeney, Keir Starmer's chief of staff and longtime aide, has resigned after a bitter row about supposed plots to bring down the PM. McSweeney masterminded Starmer's path to Downing Street less than five years after Jeremy Corbyn's devastating defeat in the 2019 election. His position came under intense pressure after a seemingly botched No 10 operation to shore up Starmer's position by pre-emptively briefing that he would fight vigorously against any efforts to remove him.

Earlier on Tuesday Downing Street confirmed they have sent the Metropolitan Police a file on the former US ambassador over his links with paedophile Epstein. Scotland Yard confirmed on Tuesday afternoon that they have received a report from Downing Street. On Monday, Ella Marriott, Commander of the Met, said, "The reports will all be reviewed to determine if they meet the criminal threshold for investigation. "As with any matter, if new and relevant information is brought to our attention we will assess it, and investigate as appropriate."

Downing Street may have to scale back or even abandon deploying thousands of soldiers to Ukraine as the risks are too high.