UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday is likely to address a meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP) amid demands for his resignation over Peter Mandelson scandal. The confrontation is set to take place a day after Morgan McSweeney, Starmer's chief of staff, resigned on Sunday due to the criticism. In his statement, McSweeney acknowledged his mistake in advising the British prime minister to appoint Peter Mandelson as the UK ambassador to the United States despite his past links with convicted sex trafficker Jeffery Epstein.
McSweeney, in his statement, took full responsibility for Mandelson's appointment, adding that the diplomat has damaged the reputation of the Labour Party and Britain. "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," he asserted.
Keir Starmer To Resign?
The British government is set to release tens of thousands of messages, emails, and documents related to Mandelson’s appointment; however, the process is likely to take months. Starmer believes that the files will establish that Mandelson had misled the officials about the extent of his ties with the sex trafficker, reported the Independent.
ALSO READ: Will Keir Starmer Quit Over Mandelson-Epstein Row? Who Could Take Over Labour Leadership
However, the critics within the party believe that accountability cannot stop with McSweeney's resignation, and Starmer must set an example. Labour MP Rachael Maskell asserted that McSweeney's resignation cannot completely resolve the situation, urging the prime minister to recognize the gravity of the issue.
"If he hasn’t understood the seriousness of the situation, then I think he will find it very difficult to continue," Maskell stated. The row erupted after Mandelson was accused of sharing market-sensitive information with Epstein while serving as the UK’s business secretary during the 2008 financial crisis.