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Morgan McSweeney

Morgan McSweeney

Former Downing Street Chief of Staff

Appears in 1 story

Notable Quotes

"I advised the prime minister to make that appointment and I take full responsibility for that advice. Responsibility must be owned when it matters most, not just when convenient." — Resignation statement, February 8, 2026

Stories

Starmer government unravels over Mandelson-Epstein appointment

Rule Changes

Resigned February 8, 2026

Morgan McSweeney, the strategist who engineered Labour's 2024 landslide victory, resigned on February 8, 2026, taking responsibility for advising Prime Minister Keir Starmer to appoint Peter Mandelson as ambassador to Washington despite known ties to Jeffrey Epstein. Communications Director Tim Allan departed the following day, marking the fourth communications chief to leave Starmer's administration in 18 months. The crisis has now expanded dramatically: on February 19, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor (formerly Prince Andrew) was arrested on his 66th birthday on suspicion of misconduct in public office over allegations he leaked government information to Epstein while serving as UK trade envoy between 2001 and 2011.

Updated Feb 19