Keir Starmer makes new chief of staff appointment in bid to cling onto power after Morgan McSweeney resignation
Sir Keir Starmer has announced the replacements for Morgan McSweeney after he resigned as the Prime Minister’s Chief of Staff.
Mr McSweeney has resigned as Keir Starmer’s Chief of Staff after accepting “full responsibility” for advising on the appointment of Lord Mandelson.
Now, the Prime Minister has confirmed Jill Cuthbertson and Vidhya Alakeson will be appointed acting chiefs of staff, with immediate effect.
The Prime Minister’s ally had faced calls from within the Labour Party to go after being blamed by many for pushing the appointment of his ally Lord Mandelson as ambassador to the US, despite knowing that his dealings with Jeffrey Epstein continued after the financier’s conviction for child sex offences.
Morgan McSweeney has resigned
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The news will come as a blow to Sir Keir, whose own political future has been thrown into jeopardy amid questions of his judgment in picking Lord Mandelson as his top diplomat in Washington.
In a statement, Mr McSweeney said: “After careful reflection, I have decided to resign from the government. The decision to appoint Peter Mandelson was wrong.”
Mr McSweeney continued: “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.”
Reacting to the move, the Prime Minister thanked Morgan McSweeney for “his dedication, loyalty and leadership”, adding: “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.
Ms Cuthbertson and Ms Alakeson were Mr McSweeney’s deputies who have now been promoted to his former role.
Both have long been members of the Prime Minister’s inner circle during his time as leader of the opposition and then in Government.
Ms Cuthbertson was in charge of Sir Keir’s private office until his landslide general election victory in 2024, meanwhile Ms Alakeson was Labour’s Director of External Relations.
Reacting to the announcement, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said: “As predicted McSweeney has gone. Labour are just continuing the chaos we saw under the Tories.
