London:
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday insisted he would not step down despite growing pressure from within his party and escalating fallout from the Jeffrey Epstein-linked scandal that has engulfed his government.
Addressing Labour MPs at a crucial meeting, Starmer said he would not “walk away” from his mandate, striking a defiant tone as his premiership faces its biggest crisis since taking office 19 months ago.
“After having fought so hard for the chance to change our country, I’m not prepared to walk away from my mandate and my responsibility,” Starmer told lawmakers, receiving applause. He added that he had “won every fight I’ve ever been in.”
Resignation Calls From Senior Ally
Earlier, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar called on Starmer to resign, accusing him of damaging the government by appointing Peter Mandelson as US ambassador despite knowing about Mandelson’s links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
“The distraction needs to end, and the leadership in Downing Street has to change,” Sarwar said in Glasgow, becoming the most senior Labour figure to publicly demand Starmer’s departure.
However, several senior cabinet ministers, including Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy, Foreign Minister Yvette Cooper, and Finance Minister Rachel Reeves, publicly backed Starmer after days of silence.
Potential successors Angela Rayner and Shabana Mahmood also expressed “full support” for the prime minister.
Key Staff Departures Shake Downing Street
The crisis deepened with the resignation of two senior aides in quick succession.
- Tim Allan, Starmer’s communications chief, quit on Monday after just months in the role.
- Morgan McSweeney, Starmer’s powerful chief of staff, resigned on Sunday after advising the controversial Mandelson appointment.
McSweeney had been a key strategist who helped steer Labour back to the political centre after Starmer replaced left-wing leader Jeremy Corbyn in 2020.
Starmer’s government has seen repeated staff exits, policy U-turns, and messaging missteps, which have contributed to falling approval ratings.
Opposition and Far-Right Surge
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch described Starmer’s position as “untenable,” while hard-right Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said the prime minister’s tenure was “drawing to the close.”
Labour has been trailing Farage’s anti-immigration party by double-digit margins in opinion polls for the past year, increasing pressure ahead of upcoming elections.
Public opinion remains divided.
- James Lyon, a London creative professional, criticised Starmer’s judgment in appointing Mandelson.
- Anil Passi, an IT business owner, said it was unfair to demand Starmer’s resignation over the issue.
Epstein Controversy Rekindled
Starmer dismissed Mandelson in September after US Congress documents revealed the extent of Mandelson’s relationship with Epstein following his 2008 conviction for soliciting a minor. Epstein died by suicide in prison in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.
New documents released by the US government on January 30 reignited the scandal, alleging Mandelson leaked confidential UK government information to Epstein, including during the 2008 financial crisis.
Police are now investigating Mandelson, 72, for misconduct in public office and recently raided two of his properties, though he has not been arrested.
Starmer, a former human rights lawyer and England and Wales’ top prosecutor, has apologised to Epstein’s victims and accused Mandelson of lying about his ties during the vetting process for the ambassadorial appointment.
The government plans to release tens of thousands of emails, messages, and documents related to Mandelson’s appointment, potentially intensifying scrutiny of Starmer and his cabinet.
Political Uncertainty Ahead
Several left-wing Labour MPs have suggested Starmer should step aside, though no clear successor has emerged and party rules make leadership challenges difficult.
The party faces a by-election on February 28, local elections in May, and a tough contest in Scotland, where Labour is expected to lose ground to the Scottish National Party. The next general election is scheduled for 2029.
In his address, Starmer framed the battle against Reform UK as the “fight of our lives,” underscoring the high stakes for Labour’s future.