UK prime minister Keir Starmer was battling to save his premiership on Sunday night, following the resignation of his closest aide, Cork man Morgan McSweeney. McSweeney acknowledged in his resignation statement that he advised Starmer to give his old mentor Mandelson the job. Brian Leishman, a Scottish MP, said Starmer should “look at his own position and question whether he should follow McSweeney’s lead”. Starmer did not mention the Mandelson scandal in his reaction to the exit of McSweeney, with whom he said it was an “honour” to work. Westminster observers speculated that the Irishman’s exit may buy Starmer a small amount of breathing space should he choose to fight on, but not much.

Source: The Irish Times February 09, 2026 02:23 UTC