British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has refused to resign despite deep pressure from within his own party and beyond over his controversial choice to appoint Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the United States, a decision now engulfed in a scandal tied to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The crisis has grown after new information from released U.S. Justice Department files revived scrutiny of Mandelson’s past links to Epstein and suggested potential misconduct while Mandelson held senior government roles. Although Mandelson was sacked as ambassador in September 2025, the fallout continues to damage Starmer’s leadership.
On February 8–9, 2026, two of Starmer’s closest aides resigned in quick succession. Chief of staff Morgan McSweeney stepped down, saying he took responsibility for advising Starmer to appoint Mandelson, and communications director Tim Allan also left his post amid the crisis.
The toughest blow has come from Anas Sarwar, leader of Scottish Labour, who publicly called for Starmer to quit. Sarwar argued that the issue has become a distraction that threatens the party’s ability to focus on core issues, especially as Labour’s support has dipped since the 2024 election.
Despite the criticism, Starmer stood firm at a meeting of Labour MPs, saying he wasn’t prepared “to walk away” from his mandate and responsibilities. He stressed his commitment to preventing a rise in fringe parties and to pushing forward with Labour’s agenda on the cost of living and the economy.
Many senior Labour figures backed him publicly, including Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy, Finance Minister Rachel Reeves, Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, and Angela Rayner, a potential future leader, who all pledged their support in recent days.
Opposition parties also piled on pressure. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch accused Starmer of weak leadership and urged either new leadership in Labour or a fresh general election.
Whether Starmer can emerge from the storm remains uncertain. The Epstein-Mandelson fallout has shaken confidence in his judgment and raised fresh questions about his ability to lead, even though he has survived immediate calls to resign.
