Starmer has 'full confidence' in Morgan McSweeney, No 10 says amid calls for his sacking – as it happened

Keir Starmer has full confidence in his chief of staff Morgan McSweeney, Downing Street confirmed today amid mounting calls for McSweeney's sacking following his ally Peter Mandelson's appointment as US ambassador.

Starmer made a lengthy speech on community cohesion but was bombarded with questions about his leadership after one of his most turbulent days since entering Downing Street. He later apologised for appointing Mandelson, citing the financier's relationship with convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The Prime Minister gave an apology speech yesterday afternoon, stating that he regretted appointing Mandelson in Washington given his relationship with the financier and convicted sex offender, about which he said the Labour peer had repeatedly lied. Starmer also said, "The victims of Epstein have lived with trauma that most of us could barely comprehend, and they have to relive it again and again," he said. "They have seen accountability delayed and too often denied to them."

However, the Prime Minister's official spokesperson has stated that Starmer has full confidence in his chief of staff Morgan McSweeney amid calls for his sacking.

Starmer is under pressure following the fallout from Mandelson's appointment as US ambassador. He faces mounting calls from backbenchers and opposition parties to sack McSweeney over the role.

The government is also engaging with the Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) about releasing documents related to Mandelson's appointment.

In a communication, the committee said it is up to the government to decide which of the documents, relating to the ambassadorial appointment, should not be published. The committee also stated that it expects the government to release most papers "very shortly" and that steps would be taken to ensure document release does not compromise the Met's investigation.

Labour pressure group Mainstream has called for a "total overhaul of personnel" in Downing Street amid the fallout from Mandelson's scandal.

I'm so done with all these politics drama . First, Keir Starmer appoints Peter Mandelson as US ambassador, and now everyone's like "oh no, what have you done?!" . Like, come on, guys! You can't just sack McSweeney because of one bad apple (or in this case, Epstein) .

I think Starmer's apology speech was a good move though . He owned up to his mistake and showed some empathy towards the victims . But, seriously, how hard is it to vet someone before making them an ambassador?

Labour should focus on supporting their own people instead of just tearing each other down . We need more positivity and less drama in politics . Let's move forward and support our leaders in times of crisis !

come on, Starmer can't even get his own party together , first he apologizes for appointing Mandelson and now they're saying McSweeney is good to go? what's going on over there? it feels like he's just winging it. and let's be real, who thought Morgan McSweeney was a good choice in the first place? I mean, I get it, Starmer needs people around him but seriously, can't they even handle some controversy without getting roasted ?

"When power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely." I think Starmer is learning this the hard way with Morgan McSweeney. All these calls to sack him might just be a signal that something fishy is going on and he needs some fresh eyes in Downing Street.

omg, like seriously?? starmer is still reppin' mcsweeney despite all these controversies?! i mean, i get it, he apologized and all but come on, you gotta sack him too!! the way mcswenny was seen with mandelson at some party before his appointment as us ambassador is just sketchy and what's with the government not releasing those documents about mcsweeney's role in this whole thing?? it's like they're hiding something... idk, maybe i'm just a die hard labour fan but starmer needs to do better here

I mean, seriously, how can Starmer have full confidence in McSweeney after this whole Epstein thing? I get that you've got to trust your team and all that, but come on! The fact that he apologized for appointing Mandelson is a major bummer. And now everyone's calling for McSweeney's sacking? I don't blame them, tbh .

I'm not saying Starmer made the right or wrong move, but you'd think someone in his position would be able to sniff out some red flags with Epstein before making a major ally. It's just common sense, right? And what's up with this whole 'victims' thing? I get why he was trying to sympathize, but it felt kinda... insincere .

The fact that the government is trying to release some documents about Mandelson's appointment and McSweeney's involvement doesn't exactly fill me with confidence either. Maybe they'll just whitewash everything? Ugh, politics

I'm low-key worried about Starmer now... I mean, I get it, he apologized and all but can't they just be more transparent? Morgan McSweeney is like a ticking time bomb over there and I don't think anyone has his back yet. Like, if the opposition is already calling for his sacking then maybe something fishy is going on. And what's up with this whole Mandelson thing? The guy's got some serious baggage and now he's US ambassador? That's just wild. I'm not saying McSweeney is innocent or anything but come on, can't we get the truth out already?

Morgan McSweeney is so done ... like come on Starmer, you're trying to be all noble and stuff but this guy's been in the doghouse for days now. If Peter Mandelson's got baggage, McSweeney's gotta have some too... or else why would he stick around? I mean, I get it, backbenchers are calling for his sacking but Starmer's got to make a move here. Can't just let him sit there like a lemon while the party's reputation is taking a hit . Something's gotta give...

I feel like Starmer is trying to navigate a super tough situation here . Appointing Peter Mandelson as US ambassador was a big risk, and it's no wonder people are calling for McSweeney's sacking . It's one thing to apologize for the mistake, but it's another to keep someone on who might've been involved in or aware of Epstein's shady dealings . I'd love to see some more transparency from Starmer about what exactly is going on behind the scenes . The government needs to get their ducks in a row and figure out how they're gonna move forward without compromising the investigation .

I feel bad for Keir Starmer, dude . He's getting roasted left and right over this Epstein thing, but I think he handled it pretty well. I mean, apologizing for appointing Mandelson and acknowledging the victims' trauma is a big deal. It shows he's taking responsibility and cares about the issue. Some people are being super harsh on him and Morgan McSweeney . Like, they need to give them some space, you know? The media's just having a field day with this story. Can't we just calm down for a sec?

I feel like Starmer is getting hit on all sides here... people are asking for McSweeney's head, but at the same time, he's saying he trusts him wholeheartedly? It's a lot of pressure to handle, and it's not surprising that McSweeney is taking some heat. I get why the opposition would want him gone, given Mandelson's appointment, but Starmer needs people around him who can help him navigate these tough situations.

I'm also really worried about the Epstein scandal, though - how many more skeletons are going to come out of the woodwork? The victims' families deserve answers and justice, not just apologies . I hope McSweeney is taking this seriously and that Starmer's team can get some things sorted out ASAP. It's a tough spot for everyone involved

Starmer needs to sack McSweeney ASAP, his loyalty is clearly questionable

The thing is, when you're leading a team and someone screws up, it's easy to point fingers and want to make changes. But what if that change comes at the cost of your own credibility? Morgan McSweeney seems like a decent bloke, but his friendship with Mandelson has cast a shadow over Starmer's leadership . It makes you wonder, is confidence in someone just a result of loyalty or trust? Shouldn't we be focusing on what went wrong instead of who's to blame? It's like, if you're going to make mistakes, own up to them and learn from them . Maybe McSweeney needs a chance to fix his mistakes before he gets sacked? The question is, does Starmer have the patience for that?

omg what's going on with keir starmer rn he's trying to save his chief of staff morgan mcsweny but it's not looking good the guy's got some serious baggage and now everyone's calling for him to get sacked like, come on keir can't you see that starmer's getting roasted

I think its a no-brainer, Starmer needs to re-think his team ASAP . McSweeney is taking one for the team by sticking it out but come on, 2 scandals under his belt? He can't even get rid of Mandelson without some fallout . Its a leadership thing, Starmer needs to be more proactive in cleaning up this mess before it affects the party's credibility . Maybe a shake-up is due, just saying

I'm low-key worried about Keir Starmer's leadership right now . He needs to take control and deal with this Epstein situation ASAP! The fact that Mandelson lied about his friendship with Epstein is a huge red flag . I mean, how many people knew about the financier's shady past?

But back to McSweeney... 74% of Labour MPs think he should be sacked . That's a pretty big chunk of his team saying he can't stay on . The fact that Starmer has full confidence in him though is a bit puzzling . Maybe he just needs to have an open conversation with McSweeney about the pressure they're under?

Here's a quick stats dump:
- 82% of people think Labour should be more transparent about its leadership
- The Epstein scandal has led to a 35% increase in public trust in politics
- If Keir Starmer loses his job, it'll be the 3rd time this year that a major UK politician has stepped down

I mean, it's just business as usual in Westminster, right?

I'm telling you, this whole thing is a mess . First off, Keir Starmer thinks he can just apologize and move on after making some questionable moves? No way, mate! You've gotta hold people accountable for their actions, especially when it comes to something as serious as Jeffrey Epstein.

And now he's got the nerve to say he has full confidence in Morgan McSweeney, who is basically getting a free pass from Starmer. I mean, come on, the guy's sacking calls are growing louder by the minute! It's time for some tough love, not just empty apologies.

The fact that the government is trying to release documents related to Mandelson's appointment, but keeping them under wraps in certain cases... it just smells like a cover-up . Labour needs to keep up the pressure and make sure these documents are released so we can see what really went down.

I'm so over these power struggles . First, Starmer apologizes for appointing Mandelson, and now people are calling for McSweeney to go? Can't they just focus on what's important - fixing the whole Epstein thing? I mean, come on, a full investigation is already ongoing, do we really need all this drama too? It's like, let's get our priorities straight and start working towards some real change. And btw, can someone please give me a layout refresh on Starmer's press conferences? They're always so sloppy .

I don't get why Starmer is still keeping McSweeney on as his chief of staff . He just made a huge mess with Mandelson and now everyone wants him out, but nope! Just full confidence in that guy . It's like he's being oblivious to the fact that McSweeney might be the one who helped make all these problems happen . And what about the pressure on Starmer from Labour backbenchers and opposition parties? Is he just ignoring them too? The government's just dodging responsibility by saying it's up to the committee to decide which documents to release, but that's just a way of stalling . Mainstream is right to call for a total overhaul of personnel in Downing Street - it's time for some serious change!

The truth is rarely pure and never simple... ~ Oscar Wilde