Newslinks for Monday 9th February 2026
This deserves loud pushback.
How long can Starmer cling on after chief of staff quits?
“Keir Starmer’s premiership was in freefall on Sunday after his right-hand man walked the plank over the Mandelson scandal. Downing Street chief of staff Morgan McSweeney quit over his part in the disastrous appointment of Peter Mandelson as US ambassador. Mr McSweeney said he took ‘full responsibility’ for the decision to send the disgraced peer to Washington, despite knowing he had stood by Jeffrey Epstein after the depraved financier was jailed for child-sex offences. But Labour MPs are openly speculating about how long Sir Keir can continue without the man who masterminded his rise to power and who was seen as ‘the PM’s brain’. Left-wingers called for the PM to resign, with former campaigns chief Jon Trickett warning: ‘The buck stops at the top.’… Kemi Badenoch welcomed Mr McSweeney’s resignation, saying it was ‘about time’. But the Tory leader said the PM ultimately had to ‘take responsibility’ for agreeing an appointment that has triggered a wave of public revulsion. In a post on X, she said: ‘Once again with this PM it’s somebody else’s fault: “Mandelson lied to me” or “Morgan advised me”. Keir Starmer has to take responsibility for his own terrible decisions. But he never does.’ Mr McSweeney is the second chief of staff to depart during Sir Keir’s turbulent reign, following the sacking of Sue Gray just months after the 2024 election.” – Daily Mail
Morgan McSweeney resigns as Starmer’s chief of staff — as it happened – The Times
Morgan McSweeney resignation ignites Labour civil war as furious allies say aide was made scapegoat in bid to save PM – The Sun
After McSweeney quits, his allies point finger at Powell – Daily Telegraph
‘Dead man walking’: No 10 chief’s resignation may be too late to save Starmer – The i
Comment:
The fall of the house of Blair is now almost complete – Tim Stanley, Daily Telegraph
Morgan McSweeney’s resignation won’t save Starmer – Anne McElvoy, The i
Keir Starmer left in purgatory by Morgan McSweeney’s exit – Trevor Phillips, The Times
If McSweeney had to go over Mandelson, so too must Starmer – Tom Harris, Daily Telegraph
What links Jeffrey Epstein and Keir Starmer’s government? A thick seam of contempt – Nesrine Malik, The Guardian
> Yesterday:
Lies, betrayal, scandal and civil war – but can the Conservatives benefit now it’s not them going through it
“I think the Prime Minister’s position is untenable” – Burghart
“It’s not working at the moment, is it?” – Allin-Khan
Jockeying for Labour leadership steps up a gear with Streeting and Rayner
“MPs are secretly planning to lend staff to work on a leadership campaign by Wes Streeting in anticipation of a formal move to dislodge Sir Keir Starmer as prime minister. Allies of the health secretary …
This deserves loud pushback.
How long can Starmer cling on after chief of staff quits?
“Keir Starmer’s premiership was in freefall on Sunday after his right-hand man walked the plank over the Mandelson scandal. Downing Street chief of staff Morgan McSweeney quit over his part in the disastrous appointment of Peter Mandelson as US ambassador. Mr McSweeney said he took ‘full responsibility’ for the decision to send the disgraced peer to Washington, despite knowing he had stood by Jeffrey Epstein after the depraved financier was jailed for child-sex offences. But Labour MPs are openly speculating about how long Sir Keir can continue without the man who masterminded his rise to power and who was seen as ‘the PM’s brain’. Left-wingers called for the PM to resign, with former campaigns chief Jon Trickett warning: ‘The buck stops at the top.’… Kemi Badenoch welcomed Mr McSweeney’s resignation, saying it was ‘about time’. But the Tory leader said the PM ultimately had to ‘take responsibility’ for agreeing an appointment that has triggered a wave of public revulsion. In a post on X, she said: ‘Once again with this PM it’s somebody else’s fault: “Mandelson lied to me” or “Morgan advised me”. Keir Starmer has to take responsibility for his own terrible decisions. But he never does.’ Mr McSweeney is the second chief of staff to depart during Sir Keir’s turbulent reign, following the sacking of Sue Gray just months after the 2024 election.” – Daily Mail
Morgan McSweeney resigns as Starmer’s chief of staff — as it happened – The Times
Morgan McSweeney resignation ignites Labour civil war as furious allies say aide was made scapegoat in bid to save PM – The Sun
After McSweeney quits, his allies point finger at Powell – Daily Telegraph
‘Dead man walking’: No 10 chief’s resignation may be too late to save Starmer – The i
Comment:
The fall of the house of Blair is now almost complete – Tim Stanley, Daily Telegraph
Morgan McSweeney’s resignation won’t save Starmer – Anne McElvoy, The i
Keir Starmer left in purgatory by Morgan McSweeney’s exit – Trevor Phillips, The Times
If McSweeney had to go over Mandelson, so too must Starmer – Tom Harris, Daily Telegraph
What links Jeffrey Epstein and Keir Starmer’s government? A thick seam of contempt – Nesrine Malik, The Guardian
> Yesterday:
Lies, betrayal, scandal and civil war – but can the Conservatives benefit now it’s not them going through it
“I think the Prime Minister’s position is untenable” – Burghart
“It’s not working at the moment, is it?” – Allin-Khan
Jockeying for Labour leadership steps up a gear with Streeting and Rayner
“MPs are secretly planning to lend staff to work on a leadership campaign by Wes Streeting in anticipation of a formal move to dislodge Sir Keir Starmer as prime minister. Allies of the health secretary …
Newslinks for Monday 9th February 2026
This deserves loud pushback.
How long can Starmer cling on after chief of staff quits?
“Keir Starmer’s premiership was in freefall on Sunday after his right-hand man walked the plank over the Mandelson scandal. Downing Street chief of staff Morgan McSweeney quit over his part in the disastrous appointment of Peter Mandelson as US ambassador. Mr McSweeney said he took ‘full responsibility’ for the decision to send the disgraced peer to Washington, despite knowing he had stood by Jeffrey Epstein after the depraved financier was jailed for child-sex offences. But Labour MPs are openly speculating about how long Sir Keir can continue without the man who masterminded his rise to power and who was seen as ‘the PM’s brain’. Left-wingers called for the PM to resign, with former campaigns chief Jon Trickett warning: ‘The buck stops at the top.’… Kemi Badenoch welcomed Mr McSweeney’s resignation, saying it was ‘about time’. But the Tory leader said the PM ultimately had to ‘take responsibility’ for agreeing an appointment that has triggered a wave of public revulsion. In a post on X, she said: ‘Once again with this PM it’s somebody else’s fault: “Mandelson lied to me” or “Morgan advised me”. Keir Starmer has to take responsibility for his own terrible decisions. But he never does.’ Mr McSweeney is the second chief of staff to depart during Sir Keir’s turbulent reign, following the sacking of Sue Gray just months after the 2024 election.” – Daily Mail
Morgan McSweeney resigns as Starmer’s chief of staff — as it happened – The Times
Morgan McSweeney resignation ignites Labour civil war as furious allies say aide was made scapegoat in bid to save PM – The Sun
After McSweeney quits, his allies point finger at Powell – Daily Telegraph
‘Dead man walking’: No 10 chief’s resignation may be too late to save Starmer – The i
Comment:
The fall of the house of Blair is now almost complete – Tim Stanley, Daily Telegraph
Morgan McSweeney’s resignation won’t save Starmer – Anne McElvoy, The i
Keir Starmer left in purgatory by Morgan McSweeney’s exit – Trevor Phillips, The Times
If McSweeney had to go over Mandelson, so too must Starmer – Tom Harris, Daily Telegraph
What links Jeffrey Epstein and Keir Starmer’s government? A thick seam of contempt – Nesrine Malik, The Guardian
> Yesterday:
Lies, betrayal, scandal and civil war – but can the Conservatives benefit now it’s not them going through it
“I think the Prime Minister’s position is untenable” – Burghart
“It’s not working at the moment, is it?” – Allin-Khan
Jockeying for Labour leadership steps up a gear with Streeting and Rayner
“MPs are secretly planning to lend staff to work on a leadership campaign by Wes Streeting in anticipation of a formal move to dislodge Sir Keir Starmer as prime minister. Allies of the health secretary …
