Prime Minister Keir Starmer sacked Peter Mandelson as Britain’s ambassador to the United States after the publication of emails that, the government said, showed a closer relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein than was previously understood. The dismissal is the latest and most high‑profile in a run of 13 departures from the Labour administration since it took office 14 months ago.
The tally of exits includes eight ministers, one ambassador, one trade envoy and three senior Downing Street aides. Several departures have followed public scandals or internal disputes, and critics have said the pattern has prompted questions about appointment decisions and vetting processes inside No 10. The sacking of Lord Mandelson follows last week’s resignation of Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, which itself came amid scrutiny over her tax arrangements.
Government officials said the emails about Lord Mandelson altered the picture of his relationship with Epstein from what was known at the time of his appointment. Mr Mandelson, a Labour peer and former senior minister, said he regretted continuing his association with Epstein. The prime minister had defended the appointment earlier, saying Lord Mandelson had been properly vetted and had helped build engagement with the White House.
The departures date back to the early months of the administration. Sir Keir’s first chief of staff, Baroness Gray, resigned after three months amid reports of tensions inside No 10 and scrutiny over her pay relative to the prime minister’s salary. In November of the previous year, Louise Haigh, then transport secretary, was forced to step down after it emerged she had previously pleaded guilty to a fraud offence and received a conditional discharge; she resigned from the Cabinet following the disclosure.
In January, Tulip Siddiq resigned as a Treasury minister after an independent probe into her links to family figures in Bangladesh. The adviser on ministerial standards found she had not breached the rules but recommended the prime minister reconsider her responsibilities because of real or perceived conflicts; Ms Siddiq said her continued presence had become a distraction. She later faced separate allegations in Bangladesh, which she has denied, and a trial reported to be under way there.
Andrew Gwynne was dismissed as a health minister and suspended from the Labour Party in February after offensive messages in a private WhatsApp group surfaced; he has apologised and is under investigation by a parliamentary watchdog. Also in February, Anneliese Dodds resigned as international development minister in protest at the government’s decision to reduce foreign aid spending to fund higher defence expenditure, saying the cut would harm the UK’s reputation and remove vital assistance from desperate people.
Downing Street communications have seen several changes. Matthew Doyle, who served as communications chief while Labour was in opposition, left No 10 in March, and James Lyons, director of strategic communications, resigned last week after 11 months in the role. Mr Lyons acknowledged he had assisted in redrafting the party’s manifesto while previously employed by a technology company; there has been no suggestion he broke rules. The government said his departure was part of the reset of its communications operation.
Other resignations and removals have involved policy disputes and ethical questions. Vicky Foxcroft resigned as a Labour whip in June in opposition to proposed cuts to disability benefits, and Sir Keir later reversed plans to cut Personal Independence Payments after a revolt among Labour MPs. Rushanara Ali resigned as homelessness minister after reports that she had evicted tenants from a property she owns and re‑let it at a higher rent; she said she had followed legal requirements but that remaining in post would be a distraction.
Afzal Khan stood down as the UK’s trade envoy to Turkey after criticism of a visit to the self‑declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and meetings with officials the Government described as sensitive. Baroness Gustafsson left her role as investment minister during a recent reshuffle after less than a year in the post; media reports said she had previously asked to step down.
Angela Rayner’s resignation last week removed the deputy prime minister, housing secretary and the party’s deputy leader from the front bench. Ms Rayner admitted she had underpaid stamp duty on a second property because of a complex family trust arrangement and referred herself for investigation. An independent adviser later concluded she had acted with integrity but had not followed a caution in legal advice; she said she had made a mistake.
The exits have prompted scrutiny from opposition parties and commentators over appointment processes and oversight within the government. Tory critics have described the departures as evidence of poor judgment. Labour officials and allies have said the prime minister has taken action when new information emerged and that some departures were linked to principled disagreements over policy decisions.
Several of those who left insist they acted lawfully or have denied wrongdoing. Investigations and legal processes remain under way in some cases, and some departures followed internal reviews or advice from independent advisers on ministerial standards.
Sir Keir’s office has said vetting and appointments are conducted in line with standard procedures and that the government will act on new information. The prime minister moved in recent weeks to relaunch a “phase two” of his government, reorganising staff and policy teams. The Mandelson removal and other recent resignations have complicated that effort and further shifted attention onto the operation of No 10 and the selection and oversight of senior appointees.