Keir Starmer Defiantly Vows to Continue as Prime Minister Amid Top Aide Resignations
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has delivered a defiant message to Downing Street staff, vowing to fight on despite the resignation of two of his most senior advisers within a 24-hour period. The dramatic departures come amid the ongoing political fallout from the Peter Mandelson scandal, which has rocked the heart of the government.
No10 Confirms Starmer Will Not Resign
The Prime Minister's official spokesman has confirmed that Keir Starmer will not resign from his position, stating he remains focused on the "job in hand." This declaration came just minutes after the resignation of Tim Allan, Mr Starmer's director of communications. On Sunday, Morgan McSweeney, the Prime Minister's chief-of-staff and a senior adviser since 2020, also stepped down from his role.
When directly questioned about the possibility of the Prime Minister resigning, the spokesman gave a firm and unequivocal response: "No." Instead, they described Mr Starmer as "upbeat" and "confident" during an address to Downing Street staff on Monday morning.
Starmer's Defiant Address to Staff
In his address, the Prime Minister expressed his frustration at the undermining of political integrity, stating: "The thing that makes me most angry is the undermining of the belief that politics can be a force for good and can change lives." He acknowledged regret over his decision to appoint Peter Mandelson and offered apologies to the victims affected by the scandal.
Mr Starmer made it explicitly clear that he has no intention of quitting, telling his advisers: "We must prove that politics can be a force for good. I believe it can. I believe it is. We go forward from here. We go with confidence as we continue changing the country."
Background of the Peter Mandelson Scandal
The resignations follow days of chaos at the highest levels of government, stemming from last year's controversial decision to appoint Peter Mandelson as the UK's ambassador to Washington. This appointment proceeded despite Mandelson's known friendship with the convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
Last week, police conducted raids on two of Mandelson's homes as part of an investigation into allegations that he leaked sensitive information to the financier during his tenure as Business Secretary under Gordon Brown's government.
Tributes to Departing Aides
In his address, Prime Minister Starmer also paid tribute to his former chief-of-staff, Morgan McSweeney, praising his dedication and loyalty. He stated: "I've known Morgan for eight years as a colleague and as a friend. We have run up and down every political football pitch that is across the country. We've been in every battle that we needed to be in together. Fighting that battle. We changed the Labour Party together. We won a general election together. And none of that would have been possible without Morgan McSweeney."
It is understood that these comments were made before the announcement that Tim Allan, the director of communications, had also resigned. Mr Allan, a former advisor to Tony Blair, was only appointed to the role in September 2025 following the resignation of James Lyons. His departure marks the fourth holder of the post to leave since Keir Starmer became Prime Minister.
Tim Allan's Resignation Statement
In a surprise statement released on Monday morning, Tim Allan explained his decision to step down: "I have decided to stand down to allow a new No10 team to be built. I wish the PM and his team every success." This resignation adds to the mounting pressure on the Prime Minister as he navigates one of the most challenging periods of his leadership.
The dual resignations of such key figures within a single day highlight the significant turmoil at the top of the government. Despite this, Keir Starmer remains resolute in his commitment to continue leading the country, emphasising his belief in the positive potential of politics and his determination to move forward with confidence.
