Top aides to Keir Starmer were briefed on an "indefensible" investigation into journalists critical of the Labour Together thinktank. The probe, commissioned by then-director Josh Simons, involved PR firm Apco Worldwide and raised questions about Starmer's knowledge.
Police say man is not suspected of involvement in the theft itself and the phone has not been recoveredPolice investigating the theft of a phone belonging to Keir Starmer’s former chief of staff Morgan McSweeney have arrested a man.The man, who was arrested on Wednesday in Peckham, south London, is suspected of receiving the phone after it was stolen, the Metropolitan police said on Thursday. Continue reading...
McSweeney was the prime minister's chief of staff in October 2025 when his government phone was stolen in London.
McSweeney was the prime minister's chief of staff in October 2025 when his government phone was stolen in London.
Ed Davey has accused Prime Minister Keir Starmer of cowardice after Labour MPs were whipped to vote against referring him to the Privileges Committee over Peter Mandelson's appointment as US ambassador. The government won the vote 335 to 223, with opposition parties including the Liberal Democrats, SNP and Reform uniting in favour of the referral. Some Labour backbenchers expressed anger at being placed in a position where they would appear complicit in a cover-up.
MPs have voted 335-223 to reject a Conservative motion to refer Prime Minister Keir Starmer to the Privileges Committee over allegations he misled Parliament about Peter Mandelson's appointment as US ambassador. Fifteen Labour MPs defied a three-line whip to support the Conservative-led motion. The government won by a majority of 112, with Starmer absent chairing the Middle East response committee. The vote followed a heated debate with allegations of a cover-up and comparisons to Boris Johnson's own privileges committee battle.
SNP MP Dave Doogan has condemned Keir Starmer's appointment of Lord Mandelson as UK ambassador to Washington, comparing it to 'a deal with the devil' and accusing the PM of owing Mandelson a debt for helping secure his election. Doogan claimed Starmer's description of the appointment as a 'mistake' was false, saying it was 'a debt to be repaid.' The debate comes amid controversy over Mandelson's relationship with Jeffrey Epstein.
Keir Starmer’s elusive ex-chief of staff Morgan McSweeney finally spoke at length in public — along with a former Foreign Office mandarin. POLITICO whips through what we learned.
Morgan McSweeney has admitted that Foreign Office officials came under intense pressure to expedite Peter Mandelson's posting as UK ambassador to Washington, but denied they were forced to skip security vetting steps. The former chief of staff, who resigned over the scandal, acknowledged asking the then top official Philip Barton to process the appointment 'at pace' but insisted he never asked officials to do anything improper. McSweeney described learning the extent of Mandelson's Jeffrey Epstein links as 'a knife through my soul' and admitted a 'serious error of judgment' in advising Keir Starmer to proceed with the appointment.
Commons debate underway after Morgan McSweeney tells committee that advising PM to appoint Mandelson was ‘serious error of judgment’Q: Was there pressure on you to approve Mandelson’s vetting?This is a reference to the claim that Keir Starmer misled MPs last week when he talked about no pressure being placed on the Foreign Office.One is during my tenure. I was not aware of any pressure on the substance of the Mandelson DV case.Question two was there pressure? Absolutely. And I’ve described it. And I also have seen what the Foreign Office said to you last night. [See 8.50am.]I didn’t receive any direct calls from the chief of staff during my time as permanent undersecretary. So there was no call at all. My interactions were always when others were present in a general meeting, there weren’t very many of those either …I’ve really racked my brains and I cannot recall Morgan McSweeney swearing in a meeting at me, or indeed just in general. So I don’t see any substance in that part of it and I think it’s important I say that this morning, given how many people have come to think that might be true. Continue reading...
Senior civil servants appeared before a parliamentary committee to explain the controversial appointment of Lord Mandelson as US ambassador. Evidence revealed pressure from Number 10 to expedite the vetting process before Trump's inauguration, concerns about Mandelson's Epstein connections, and admissions that neither Barton nor McSweeney knew Mandelson had failed UK security vetting. Both officials faced questions about the propriety of the process, with McSweeney admitting he wrongly advised the prime minister to support the appointment.
Kemi Badenoch and Ed Davey have teamed up in the Commons to pressure Keir Starmer to face a parliamentary probe over his claims about Peter Mandelson's security vetting. Badenoch led a motion calling for Starmer to be referred to the privileges committee, accusing him of misleading parliament over the appointment of Mandelson as ambassador to the US before vetting was complete. The Conservative leader accused Labour MPs of being "whipped" to exonerate Starmer before facts were tested, while Ed Davey drew laughs by comparing the situation to Boris Johnson's similar motion.
Morgan McSweeney, former chief of staff to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, has admitted making a 'serious mistake' in recommending Lord Mandelson's appointment as UK ambassador to the US. McSweeney told the Foreign Affairs Committee that after revelations about Lord Mandelson's friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein emerged, it 'dawned' on him that the peer had not given the 'full truth'. Lord Mandelson was sacked in September 2025 after photos and emails showed the depth of his relationship with Epstein. The PM faces a parliamentary vote on whether there should be an investigation into claims he misled the House of Commons about the vetting process.
Key moments as Morgan McSweeney gives evidence to MPs about Peter Mandelson's appointment as US ambassador.
Key moments as Morgan McSweeney gives evidence to MPs about Peter Mandelson's appointment as US ambassador.
Morgan McSweeney, the PM's former chief of staff, has admitted he made a serious mistake in recommending Lord Mandelson as UK's ambassador to the US. McSweeney, who resigned in February over the advice, told the Foreign Affairs Committee that after revelations about Mandelson's friendship with Jeffrey Epstein emerged, it dawned on him the peer had not given the full truth. Lord Mandelson was sacked in September 2025 after photos and emails showed the depth of his relationship with the convicted sex offender.
Kemi Badenoch has opened a Commons debate on referring Prime Minister Keir Starmer to the privileges committee over claims he misled Parliament about the vetting process for Peter Mandelson's appointment as US ambassador. Badenoch accused Labour MPs of acting like 'sheep' for dismissing the debate as a 'stunt'. Meanwhile, Morgan McSweeney, the PM's chief of staff, testified before the foreign affairs committee about the Mandelson appointment, the theft of his phone, and claims he put pressure on officials to lower vetting standards.
Morgan McSweeney, former chief of staff to Keir Starmer, has admitted that advising the Prime Minister to appoint Peter Mandelson as UK ambassador to the United States was a 'serious error of judgment'. In testimony to a committee, McSweeney acknowledged he was wrong to support the appointment and accepted responsibility, stating he resigned because accountability in public life cannot apply only when convenient. He revealed that Mandelson and George Osborne were the two strong candidates for the role, and that he regarded Mandelson as the lead candidate due to his experience as an EU trade commissioner.
Morgan McSweeney has admitted to MPs that advising Prime Minister Keir Starmer to appoint Peter Mandelson as UK ambassador to Washington was a serious error of judgment. Giving evidence to the Commons privileges committee, McSweeney acknowledged he resigned because accountability in public life cannot apply only when convenient. The hearing also heard from former Foreign Office permanent secretary Philip Barton, whose evidence backed claims the appointment was pushed through with unseemly haste and that Downing Street was uninterested in vetting concerns.
The Foreign Affairs Committee is hearing evidence about the vetting of Lord Mandelson's appointment as UK ambassador to the US, which was sacked in September 2025 over links to Jeffrey Epstein. Senior civil servant Sir Philip Barton said he was first aware of the decision on 15 December 2024 - five days before public announcement - and believed he should have been consulted. He said there was pressure to complete vetting by Trump's inauguration and no-one asked him to ensure the process was rigorous, despite identifying Epstein as a 'toxic hot potato subject'. The PM previously said 'no pressure existed whatsoever' before later acknowledging 'different types of pressure'.
Keir Starmer faces a vote on referring him to the privileges committee over his appointment of Peter Mandelson as US ambassador, with evidence from former Foreign Office permanent secretary Philip Barton and ex-chief of staff Morgan McSweeney to the foreign affairs committee. While Labour is expected to easily win the vote, the committee testimony may impact how MPs view Starmer, particularly after the sacking of Olly Robbins over the vetting controversy.
Morgan McSweeney, former chief of staff to Prime Minister Keir Starmer, will appear before the foreign affairs select committee to explain his role in appointing Peter Mandelson as US ambassador. The appointment, which cost McSweeney his job, has come under scrutiny following revelations about Mandelson's relationship with paedophile financier Jeffery Epstein. The article details the political alliance between Mandelson and McSweeney, forged through Lambeth council and later Labour Together, and their shared goal of removing the Labour left from power.
The prime minister faces a standards investigation over Mandelson affair and testimony from Morgan McSweeneyKeir Starmer has told Labour MPs to “stick together and fight together” as ministers launched a massive operation to shore up his fragile position before a critical day for his premiership.The prime minister faces the double threat of a standards investigation into his decision to appoint Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the US and a potentially damaging testimony from Morgan McSweeney, his former chief of staff. Continue reading...
Keir Starmer faces a challenging week as his former chief of staff Morgan McSweeney appears before MPs on Tuesday to answer questions about the Peter Mandelson vetting scandal. The Prime Minister also faces potential appearance before the privileges select committee to defend against accusations he misled parliament, while rumours circulate about Labour MPs working on transition plans.
