LONDON: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday ruled out stepping down, saying he would not “walk away” from his mandate despite growing pressure over the Jeffrey Epstein-linked controversy that has engulfed his government.
Senior cabinet members publicly rallied behind Starmer as he faced the most serious political crisis of his 19-month premiership, amid declining poll numbers and a rising challenge from the far-right.
Addressing Labour lawmakers at a closed-door meeting, Starmer said he remained committed to leading the country and fulfilling his responsibilities. He was greeted with applause by party members.
“After having fought so hard for the chance to change our country, I’m not prepared to walk away from my mandate and my responsibility,” he told the meeting, adding that he had “won every fight” he had taken on.
Earlier in the day, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar called on Starmer to resign, accusing him of poor judgment for appointing Peter Mandelson as Britain’s ambassador to the United States despite his alleged links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
“The distraction needs to end, and the leadership in Downing Street has to change,” Sarwar told reporters in Glasgow, becoming the most senior Labour figure to publicly demand Starmer’s resignation.
However, senior ministers including Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy, Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper and Finance Minister Rachel Reeves expressed their support for the prime minister. Labour figures Angela Rayner and Interior Minister Shabana Mahmood also reaffirmed their backing.
The crisis deepened as Starmer lost his second senior aide in two days. His communications chief Tim Allan resigned on Monday, following the departure of Chief of Staff Morgan McSweeney a day earlier. McSweeney had advised Starmer on Mandelson’s appointment and was considered one of his closest aides.
Opposition leaders seized on the turmoil. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch described Starmer’s position as “untenable”, while Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said the prime minister’s tenure was nearing its end. Recent opinion polls show Labour trailing Farage’s party by wide margins.
Peter Mandelson was dismissed from his post in September last year after US congressional documents detailed his relationship with Epstein. Fresh documents released by the US government in late January reignited the controversy, allegedly showing Mandelson shared confidential government information with Epstein while serving as a minister.
British police are investigating Mandelson for misconduct in public office and last week raided two of his properties. He has not been arrested.
Starmer, a former chief prosecutor, has apologised to Epstein’s victims and said Mandelson misled authorities during the vetting process. The government has announced plans to release thousands of documents related to the appointment, potentially increasing political pressure.
Despite calls from some Labour lawmakers for Starmer to step aside, no clear successor has emerged. The party faces a by-election later this month and key local elections in May, with the next general election due in 2029.