Morgan McSweeney has resigned as Sir Keir Starmer’s chief of staff amid the fall-out from the Peter Mandelson scandal.
Several Labour MPs blamed him for the appointment of the former Labour peer to ambassador of the US.
Mandelson was sacked from that position in September, but new Epstein files suggesting he shared confidential information with the convicted sex offender when he was a cabinet minister brought the issue back into the spotlight.
In a statement Mr McSweeney said: “The decision to appoint Peter Mandelson was wrong. He has damaged our party, our country and trust in politics itself.
“When asked, I advised the prime minister to make that appointment and I take full responsibility for that advice.
“In public life responsibility must be owned when it matters most, not just when it is most convenient. In the circumstances, the only honourable course is to step aside.”
Mr McSweeney said it has “not been an easy decision” and stressed he remains “fully supportive” of Sir Keir.
He added: “Much has been written and said about me over the years but my motivations have always been simple: I have worked every day to elect and support a government that puts the lives of ordinary people first and leads us to a better future for our great country. Only a Labour government will do that.”
He said he had “two reflections” as he leaves the post.
“Firstly, and most importantly, we must remember the women and girls whose lives were ruined by Jeffrey Epstein and whose voices went unheard for far too long.
“Secondly, while I did not oversee the due diligence and vetting process, I believe that process must now be fundamentally overhauled. This cannot simply be a gesture but a safeguard for the future.”
The files have also led to questions over Sir Keir Starmer’s judgement in appointing Mandelson to the top diplomatic positionm, with some Labour MPs calling for him to resign also.
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