Mike Pearse: UK correspondent on Keir Starmer's chief of staff quitting episode artwork

EPISODE · Feb 8, 2026 · 3 MIN

Mike Pearse: UK correspondent on Keir Starmer's chief of staff quitting

from Early Edition with Ryan Bridge · host Newstalk ZB

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer's chief of staff has quit - claiming he's responsible for advising Starmer to appoint Peter Mandelson as US ambassador.  Morgan McSweeney's position had been in doubt - after emails revealed Mandelson’s relationship with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Mandelson's facing a criminal investigation - into claims he'd passed sensitive information to Epstein.  UK correspondent Mike Pearse told Ryan Bridge the scandal has Starmer's popularity waning.  He says a new poll reveals Starmer has the support of fewer than one in five people in the UK - with some of his own MPs saying it's a matter of time before he pays the price. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Feb 8, 2026

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Mike Pearse: UK correspondent on Keir Starmer's chief of staff quitting

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