United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer has come under fire over the appointment of Peter Mandelson as Britain's ambassador to Washington in 2024. His leadership came under pressure after the revelations about Epstein's links to senior leaders.
Despite Starmer knowing Mandelson's relationship with Epstein, he was appointed to the key post in 2024. Now, fingers are being pointed at Morgan McSweeney, Starmer's Chief of Staff. McSweeney is central to government strategy and decision-making.
Who is Morgan McSweeney?
Political strategist Morgan McSweeney was appointed as one of Starmer's closest aides and has helped his leadership campaign in 2020. He was appointed the Head of Political Strategy in Downing Street after the 2024 General Election. Three months later, he was promoted to PM's Chief of Staff.
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It is said that McSweeney is a protégé of Mandelson and reportedly pushed for the appointment despite a "red flag" from the Cabinet Office's propriety team. Was the vetting process deliberately bypassed to place a "Trump-friendly" envoy in Washington?
According to reports, McSweeney was "very insistent" on Mandelson's appointment as US ambassador. In September last year, he tried to delay Mandelson's ultimate sacking as well. But eventually, he was fired after his name popped up in the latest Jeffrey Epstein files.
In the latest emails released by the US Justice Department, Mandelson called Epstein his "best pal".
McSweeney cut his political teeth by campaigning for Steve Reed in the Lambeth local authority elections of 2006. Reed is now Starmer's housing minister.
In the midst of the controversy, Starmer on Thursday apologised and said that Mandelson had repeatedly lied and "portrayed Epstein as someone he barely knew."
The emails also suggest that Mandelson shared sensitive government information with Epstein after the 2008 global financial crisis, and records of payments totalling $75,000 in 2003 and 2004 from Epstein to accounts linked to Mandelson or his husband, Reinaldo Avila da Silva.
UK police are investigating Mandelson over potential misconduct in public office.
