Mandelson-Starmer latest: Morgan McSweeney resigns as PM's chief of staff over US ambassador scandal

Source: The Independent

Starmer’s chief of staff said he took ‘full responsibility’ for the advice to appoint Lord Mandelson

Morgan McSweeney has resigned as the Downing Street chief of staff over his role in the appointment of Lord Peter Mandelson as US ambassador.

Mr McSweeney is reported to have pushed for the appointment last year, despite concerns from the Donald Trump administration and red flags raised by the security services over the former Labour grandee’s links to China and Epstein.

In a statement announcing his resignation, he said he took “full responsibility” for the advice to Starmer to appoint Lord Mandelson.

It comes after reports that a five-figure exit payment was reportedly given to Lord Mandelson when he was sacked as US ambassador after the latest release of the Epstein files. The payment is now being reviewed by the Foreign Office.

Read more: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/starmer-mcsweeney-resigns-mandelson-epstein-labour-latest-news-b2916240.html