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By Daniel Orton and Kate Plummer
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British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is facing calls from politicians within his own party to resign, over a decision to appoint a U.K. ambassador to the U.S. who had a friendship with Jeffrey Epstein.
On Monday, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar became the first senior Labour Party figure to officially call for Starmer to step down, saying the scandal was a "distraction that needs to end" for the ruling Labour government.
But Starmer's cabinet in response has backed their leader, with a string of senior ministers saying they would stay the course with the prime minister who won a landslide election victory 18 months ago.
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The ill-judged appointment of Lord Peter Mandelson has continued to haunt Starmer, especially since more details of the former Labour minister's relationship with Epstein came to light in files released just over a week ago.
British police have launched a criminal investigation into whether Mandelson shared private, market-sensitive information with Epstein while he was in government. They are also looking into investigating the former Prince Andrew over his links to Epstein.
Two of Starmer's senior advisers, his chief of staff and communications director, have also resigned in recent days over the scandal, saying they were to blame for Mandelson's brief appointment.
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Who Has Resigned So Far?
Starmer has been dogged by the scandal since it reemerged last week and has been forced repeatedly to explain the reasons for Mandelson's appointment.
Mandelson occupied the ambassador role briefly before public outrage over his friendship with Epstein, the late disgraced financier and convicted sex offender, forced him out.
It had long been known that Mandelson had links to Epstein, but further evidence detailing the pair's close communications were only disclosed in the tranche of files released last week by the U.S. Justice Department. One file showed a photo of Mandelson in his underwear standing next to an unidentified woman.
On Sunday, Starmer's chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, resigned over the scandal saying he took full responsibility for advising Starmer to appoint Mandelson despite concerns about his past ties to Epstein.
The on Monday morning, Starmer’s director of communications, Tim Allan, said he was also resigning “to allow a new No10 team to be built."
What Has Starmer Said?
Starmer has repeatedly apologized for the mistake, and issued an apology to Epstein’s victims last week. He said Mandelson had lied to him over the extent of his relationship with Epstein.
“It had been publicly known for some time that Mandelson knew Epstein, but none of us knew the depth and the darkness of that relationship," Starmer said.
On Monday, he again addressed staff at his Downing Street office to express regret over appointing Mandelson.
"We must prove that politics can be a force for good," he said, according to reports. "I believe it can. I believe it is. We go forward from here. We go with confidence as we continue changing the country."
Cabinet Ministers Coming Out in Support of Keir Starmer
A number of cabinet ministers have said they still back Starmer. David Lammy, the deputy prime minister and justice secretary, posted on X: “Keir Starmer won a massive mandate 18 months ago, for five years to deliver on Labour’s manifesto that we all stood on. We should let nothing distract us from our mission to change Britain and we support the prime minister in doing that.”
Meanwhile, Steve Reed, the housing secretary, said: “Keir led our party to victory and won a mandate for change.
"Waiting lists are falling, wages are rising, new rights for renters and leaseholders. We need to stay the course and deliver the change this country voted for.”
Other ministers who have come out in support of Starmer include Chancellor Rachel Reeves. Ex-deputy leader Angela Rayner wrote on X that Starmer "has my full support."
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband wrote on X: "This is not the time for the government to turn inwards on itself. We must focus on delivering the change we promised the country."
What Are Others Saying?
Anwas said people in Scotland were "crying out for a competent government" and that there "have been too many mistakes" in Downing Street. He added that he has "to do what's right for my country and Scotland."
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch told the BBC that Allan's resignation was "yet another sign that things are falling apart."
“Right now, we have a government focusing purely on its own psychodrama," the opposition leader said.
What Comes Next?
Mandelson, who resigned from the Labour Party and the House of Lords earlier this month, is not accused of any sexual offenses.
But British police have opened a criminal investigation over allegations the former Labour Party veteran and former cabinet minister shared market-sensitive government information with Epstein while he held senior government roles in former U.K. Prime Minister Gordon Brown's government.
Emails in the files appeared to show Mandelson informing Epstein that Brown was due to leave office. They also refer to the U.K.'s Brexit vote.
The files also showed that between 2003 and 2004, Epstein sent three payments totaling $75,000 to accounts linked to Mandelson or his partner, Reinaldo Avila da Silva.
Mandelson has said he does not recall receiving the money and is examining whether the documents are authentic.
The Metropolitan Police searched two properties linked to Mandelson in the U.K. on Friday as part of the investigation.
Mandelson has further denied allegations related to Epstein, saying: "Allegations which I believe to be false that he made financial payments to me 20 years ago, and of which I have no record or recollection, need investigating by me."
He stepped down from the Labour Party and the House of Lords last week, amid calls for his peerage to be removed.
Update: 2/9/2026 11:15 a.m. ET: This article has been updated with more information.
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