Anas Sarwar Demands Starmer Resign After Mandelson-Epstein Files
Sarwar calls for Starmer to quit on Feb. 9 after the Jan. 30 release of more than 3 million DOJ files linking Peter Mandelson to Jeffrey Epstein.
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New York Daily NewsBritish PM fights to keep his job after revelations about former ambassador’s ties to Epstein
Overview
Anas Sarwar, leader of the Labour Party in Scotland, publicly called on Prime Minister Keir Starmer to resign on Feb. 9, saying "the distraction needs to end" and officials confirmed his statement.
The Jan. 30 release of more than 3 million U.S. Department of Justice files, prosecutors allege, contains emails and transfers suggesting Peter Mandelson maintained contact with Jeffrey Epstein, and the Financial Times reported Mandelson received about $75,000 in 2003-04.
Morgan McSweeney resigned as Starmer's chief of staff on Feb. 8 saying he took responsibility for advising Mandelson's appointment, and Tim Allan resigned as director of communications on Feb. 9 while Downing Street said the prime minister will not resign and is "concentrating on the job," officials confirmed.
A YouGov poll conducted after the revelations found 50% of voters favoured Starmer's resignation, and party sources said Labour planned a closed-door meeting of nearly 400 backbench MPs on Feb. 9 where members may consider moves to remove the leader.
Starmer said he will publish vetting emails related to Mandelson's 2024 appointment but warned documents must be vetted for national security and police concerns and officials said publication could be weeks away as a police probe into alleged misconduct in public office continues.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the coverage as a leadership crisis by foregrounding scandal-driven language ("on the rocks," "political storm") and prioritizing critic perspectives and institutional responses. Editorial choices—placement of Mandelson/Epstein revelations, candidate profiles noting weaknesses, and juxtaposing Starmer's apology with calls for resignation—shape urgency, while source material (resignations, investigations, quotes) provides factual grounding.
FAQ
The files reveal emails showing Mandelson shared sensitive government information with Epstein post-2008 conviction, including details on UK financial crisis responses and a €500 billion EU bailout, plus $75,000 transfers to Mandelson-linked accounts in 2003-2004.[1]
Sarwar, Scottish Labour leader, called for Starmer to quit on Feb. 9, citing the Epstein-Mandelson scandal as a distraction that needs to end, following the Jan. 30 DOJ files release.[user_story]
Mandelson was sacked as UK ambassador by Starmer in September 2025, resigned from the House of Lords, and faces a police probe for misconduct in public office over sharing sensitive info with Epstein.[1]
Starmer's chief of staff Morgan McSweeney and communications director Tim Allan resigned; a YouGov poll shows 50% of voters favor Starmer's resignation; Labour plans a backbench MPs meeting to consider removing him.[user_story]
British police are investigating Mandelson for misconduct in public office, searching properties, with Starmer pledging to release vetting emails after national security and police reviews.[1]
