British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is under intense pressure to resign after two senior aides quit within the last 48 hours, deepening a fast-moving scandal over the appointment of a new UK Ambassador to the United States who had documented social ties to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
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The crisis escalated dramatically on Tuesday and Wednesday (February 10–11, 2026) when: Downing Street Chief of Staff Sue Gray submitted her resignation late Tuesday night, citing “insurmountable differences” with the Prime Minister over handling of recent controversies.
Director of Communications Matthew Doyle followed suit on Wednesday morning, stating he could no longer defend the government’s position on the ambassador appointment.
Both departures were confirmed by No. 10 Downing Street in brief statements that offered no further explanation.
The scandal centres on the appointment of Lord Peter Mandelson (a close political ally of Sir Keir and former Business Secretary under Tony Blair) as UK Ambassador to Washington.
Leaked documents and photographs published by The Guardian and The Times over the weekend revealed that Mandelson: Met Jeffrey Epstein on multiple occasions between 2005 and 2010. Attended dinners and social events at Epstein’s properties in New York and London.
Accepted flights and accommodation linked to Epstein’s circle (though no criminal wrongdoing has been alleged against Mandelson himself).
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The revelations triggered immediate outrage across the political spectrum, with opposition leader Kemi Badenoch (Conservative) accusing the government of “a staggering error of judgment” and demanding Mandelson’s immediate withdrawal.
Conservative Party: Shadow Foreign Secretary Andrew Mitchell called the ambassador appointment “unacceptable and indefensible” and said: “If the Prime Minister will not sack Lord Mandelson, then the country must ask whether Sir Keir is fit to remain in office.”
Liberal Democrats: Leader Ed Davey demanded a full independent inquiry into the vetting process and said Starmer’s position was now “untenable.”
Within Labour: At least 12 Labour MPs have publicly called for the Prime Minister to reverse the appointment. A further 25 have signed a private letter urging him to “show leadership” by removing Mandelson.
Public sentiment: YouGov snap poll (February 11, 2026) shows 61% of Britons believe Mandelson should not serve as ambassador, while 48% say Starmer should resign if he refuses to reverse the decision.
Downing Street has so far stood firm, insisting Lord Mandelson underwent full security vetting and that his past associations with Epstein were “historical and well-known” and do not disqualify him from the role.
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Prime Minister Starmer is expected to make a statement to the House of Commons later today as pressure continues to build.
This is a developing story with potential leadership implications for the Labour government less than two years after their landslide victory in July 2024.
By Ogungbayi Beedee Adeyemi
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