London, 10 February (H.S.): British Prime Minister Keir Starmer vowed on Monday, to steadfastly retain his office despite mounting pressure from within Labour ranks and opposition quarters over his ill-fated appointment of Peter Mandelson as U.S. ambassador, a decision now mired in revelations of the nominee's post-conviction ties to Jeffrey Epstein.

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar escalated the crisis during a Glasgow press conference on February 9, urging Starmer to resign forthwith, decrying the saga as an intolerable distraction necessitating leadership change at Number 10.

In riposte, senior ministers—including Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, and Chancellor Rachel Reeves—professed unwavering backing, while potential successors Angela Rayner and Shabana Mahmood affirmed full support for the embattled premier.

Addressing Labour MPs amid applause that evening, Starmer proclaimed, 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, while framing the contest against surging Reform UK as the fight of our lives ahead of pivotal May local elections.

The maelstrom intensified with dual high-level resignations: chief of staff Morgan McSweeney quit on Sunday, February 8, for greenlighting Mandelson's nomination despite vetting oversights, severing Starmer's paramount strategist who orchestrated the party's centrist pivot post-Jeremy Corbyn.

Communications director Tim Allan followed suit on February 9, the second such exit in 48 hours, underscoring a premiership plagued by staff churn, U-turns, and plummeting approval ratings 19 months in.

Starmer dismissed Mandelson on September 15, 2025, after U.S. congressional disclosures illuminated the ex-chancellor's communications with Epstein post-2008 conviction; fresh U.S. government files unsealed January 30, 2026, alleged Mandelson relayed confidential British data—including 2008 financial crisis briefings—to the financier.

Metropolitan Police launched a misconduct in public office inquiry against 72-year-old Mandelson on February 6, raiding two properties sans arrest; Starmer, erstwhile Director of Public Prosecutions, apologized to Epstein's victims on February 9, accusing Mandelson of dissimulation during clearance processes.

Downing Street pledged release of tens of thousands of appointment-related emails, portending further scrutiny.

Conservative chief Kemi Badenoch deemed Starmer's post untenable on BBC Radio February 9, echoing Reform UK's Nigel Farage, whose anti-immigration outfit leads Labour by double digits; no viable successor has crystallized amid procedural hurdles to ouster.

A February 28 by-election and Scottish Nationals' expected resurgence compound vulnerabilities en route to 2029 polls.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar