London.— British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, promised on Monday that he will fight for his position as revelations about the relationship between the former UK ambassador to Washington and Jeffrey Epstein led to a full-blown crisis for his 19-month government.
The Prime Minister’s authority over his own Labour Party has been affected by the fallout from the publication of files related to Epstein, a man he never knew and whose sexual misconduct has not implicated Starmer.
Some lawmakers from Starmer’s center-left party have asked him to resign for his decision to appoint Peter Mandelson to the prominent diplomatic post in 2024, despite his links to the convicted sex offender. The leader of the Labour Party in Scotland, Anas Sarwar, joined these requests on Monday, stating that “there have been too many mistakes” and that “the leadership in Downing Street has to change”.
Starmer’s chief of staff and his communications director also resigned quickly. But Starmer insisted he would not resign.
“Every fight I’ve been in, I’ve won,” he told Labour lawmakers at a meeting in Parliament.
“I am not willing to abandon my mandate and my responsibility towards my country,” he added.
After Sarwar’s speech, high-ranking colleagues, including those considered potential rivals, joined to support Starmer. Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy wrote on X: “We must not allow anything to distract us from our mission to change Britain and we support the Prime Minister in his endeavor.”
The Foreign Secretary, Yvette Cooper, published: “At this crucial moment for the world, we need your leadership not only nationally, but also globally.” Former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, a possible successor, stated that Starmer “has my full support.”
Lawmakers who support him said Starmer won over a restless crowd when he addressed dozens of Labour MPs on Monday night behind closed doors.
“Of course there were difficult moments,” said legislator Chris Curtis. “But he really managed to convince the room.”
Starmer has apologized
Starmer fired Mandelson last September following the publication of emails showing that he maintained a friendship with Epstein after the financier’s 2008 conviction for sex offenses involving a minor. Critics claim that Starmer should have been more cautious in not appointing Mandelson. The 72-year-old Labour politician is a controversial figure whose career has been marred by financial or ethical scandals.
A new set of Epstein files released by US authorities on January 30 revealed more details about the relationship and put new pressure on Starmer.
Starmer apologized last week to Epstein’s victims and said he regretted “believing Mandelson’s lies.”
He promised to publish the documentation related to Mandelson’s appointment, which, according to the government, will demonstrate that Mandelson misled officials about his links to Epstein. However, the publication of the documents could take weeks. They must be examined for national security reasons and for possible conflicts with a police investigation.
Police are investigating Mandelson for possible malpractice in a public office, following documents suggesting he gave confidential government information to Epstein a decade and a half ago. The crime carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
Mandelson has not been arrested or charged and does not face any accusations of sexual misconduct.
The chief of staff took responsibility
Starmer’s chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, took responsibility for the decision to assign the position to Mandelson by resigning on Sunday. He said that “I advised the Prime Minister to make that appointment, and I take full responsibility for that recommendation.”
McSweeney has been Starmer’s most important advisor since he took over the Labour leadership in 2020 and is considered a key architect of the Labour Party’s landslide electoral victory in July 2024. However, some party members blame him for a series of mistakes since then.
Some Labour officials hope his departure will give the Prime Minister time to rebuild trust in the party and the country.
Legislator Emily Thornberry said McSweeney had become a “divisive figure” and that his departure brought the opportunity for a reset.
He said Starmer is “a good leader, as he is strong and clear. I think he needs to go a step further.”
Others say that McSweeney’s departure leaves Starmer weak and isolated.
The opposition calls for resignation
The leader of the opposition Conservative Party, Kemi Badenoch, said that Starmer “has made one bad decision after another” and that “his position is now untenable.”
Since taking office, Starmer has struggled to achieve the promised economic growth, repair the deteriorated public services, and reduce the cost of living. He promised to return to an honest government after 14 years of Conservative rule plagued by scandals, but he has been plagued by stumbles and U-turns regarding cuts to social assistance and other unpopular policies.
The Labour Party consistently trails behind the far-right Reform UK party in opinion polls, and its failure to improve had sparked rumors of a leadership challenge, even before Mandelson’s revelations.
Starmer said on Monday that Reform UK’s policies “would destroy this beautiful country” and called the campaign to defeat them “the fight of our times.”
“As long as I have breath in my body, I will be in that fight,” he said.
Under the British parliamentary system, prime ministers can change without the need for national elections. If Starmer is challenged or resigns, elections will be held to choose the Labour leadership. The winner will become prime minister.
The Conservatives had three prime ministers between the 2019 and 2024 national elections, including Liz Truss, who lasted only 49 days in office.
Starmer was elected with the promise to end the political chaos that affected the Conservatives during their last years in power.
Labour legislator Clive Efford said Starmer’s critics should “be careful what they wish for”.
“I don’t think people would have accepted the changes from the Prime Minister when the Conservatives were in power,” he told the BBC. “It didn’t do them any good.”
