United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Tuesday (February 10) sought to move past questions about his leadership, telling government ministers the administration was “strong and united”. He pledged not to step down from No. 10 just 19 months into a five-year term.
“And I say to them, I will never walk away from the mandate I was given to change this country. I will never walk away from the people that I am charged with fighting for, and I will never walk away from the country I love,” Starmer said in a statement.
On Monday, the Labour government led by Starmer faced mounting pressure after Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar called for his resignation over the appointment of Peter Mandelson as US ambassador despite reportedly knowing he had kept ties with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Two of Starmer’s senior government officials resigned over the controversy. The Prime Minister, however, survived the crisis and remained in position after party MPs and cabinet colleagues stood behind him during one of the most challenging days of his leadership.
The statement came after Starmer’s executive director of communications, Tim Allan, resigned on Monday, just five months into the role. His exit followed the resignation of Starmer’s Chief of Staff, Morgan McSweeney, a day earlier.
“I have decided to stand down to allow a new No. 10 team to be built. I wish the Prime Minister and his team every success,” Allan said in a statement.
Also Read: Small Plane Crash-Lands On Crowded Georgia Highway, Strikes Vehicles
The departures of both Allan and McSweeney are connected to a growing crisis surrounding the appointment of Lord Peter Mandelson as the UK’s ambassador to the United States, after his name appeared in the Epstein files with new allegations.
McSweeney, widely seen as the architect of Starmer’s 2024 landslide election victory, took “full responsibility” in his resignation letter for recommending Mandelson’s appointment as UK ambassador to the US.
Starmer sacked Mandelson in September last year after documents published by the US Congress revealed the extent of the Labour veteran’s relationship with Epstein following the financier’s 2008 conviction for soliciting a minor.
-
-
-
-
