𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Nigel Farage predicted that Sir Keir Starmer “won’t be far behind” after his chief of staff quit. Morgan McSweeney resigned as the Prime Minister’s chief of staff after coming under intense pressure over the Lord Peter Mandalson fiasco.

Reacting in a post on X, the Reform leader said: “As predicted McSweeney has gone. Labour are just continuing the chaos we saw under the Tories. My money says Starmer won’t be far behind after Labour’s disaster in the elections this coming May.”

In his exit statement, Mr McSweeney said the decision to appoint Lord Mandelson as US ambassador was “wrong” and that he took “full responsibility” for advising Sir Keir to go ahead.

The peer was sacked last year over his relationship with notorious paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

But there has been fresh scrutiny after new documents suggested he leaked information to the disgraced financier while he was a government minister.

Mr McSweeney said: “After careful reflection, I have decided to resign from the Government. The decision to appoint Peter Mandelson was wrong. He has damaged our party, our country and trust in politics itself.

“When asked, I advised the Prime Minister to make that appointment and I take full responsibility for that advice. In public life responsibility must be owned when it matters most, not just when it is most convenient. In the circumstances, the only honourable course is to step aside.

“This has not been an easy decision. Much has been written and said about me over the years but my motivations have always been simple: I have worked every day to elect and support a government that puts the lives of ordinary people first and leads us to a better future for our great country. Only a Labour government will do that.

“I leave with pride in all we have achieved mixed with regret at the circumstances of my departure. But I have always believed there are moments when you must accept your responsibility and step aside for the bigger cause.”

Sir Keir expressed a “debt of gratitude” to Mr McSweeney and credited his “dedication, loyalty and leadership” for Labour’s 2024 general election win.

The Prime Minister said: “It’s been an honour working with Morgan McSweeney for many years. He turned our party around after one of its worst ever defeats and played a central role running our election campaign. It is largely thanks to his dedication, loyalty and leadership that we won a landslide majority and have the chance to change the country.

“Having worked closely with Morgan in opposition and in government, I have seen every day his commitment to the Labour Party and to our country. Our party and I owe him a debt of gratitude, and I thank him for his service.”