What’s subsequent for Keir Starmer as he faces battle for survival over Peter Mandleson scandal

On Feb 6, 2026

Keir Starmer is battling for his political survival as the fallout over the Mandelson scandal continues to cast a dark shadow over the government. The Mirror looks at what could happen next

11:08, 06 Feb 2026

Keir Starmer is battling for his political survival as the fallout from the Peter Mandelson scandal continues to cast a dark shadow over the government.

The PM was forced to apologise this week to Jeffrey Epstein’s victims for making the Labour veteran the UK’s ambassador to Washington and believing his lies.

In a major speech, Mr Starmer insisted he had no knowledge of the “depth of the darkness” in the relationship between Lord Mandelson and the notorious paedophile. “It has been publicly known for some time that Mandelson knew Epstein, but none of us knew the depth of the darkness of that relationship,” he said.

But the situation the PM is facing is perilous. While a handful of left-wing backbenchers have publicly called for the Prime Minister to resign so far, many more have done so anonymously.

Here The Mirror looks at what could happen next for Keir Starmer.

Will Keir Starmer resign?

It’s the question many people are asking – but it appears extremely unlikely the Prime Minister will voluntarily resign and hand over the keys to No10. He made that clear during his speech yesterday reminding everyone he is sticking around to deliver on the 2024 election mandate to change the country.

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Dave Burke

Launching the Pride in Place scheme for deprived communities yesterday – overshadowed by the Mandelson scandal – the PM struck a defiant tone amid anger from Labour MPs. He said he understood their anger and frustration – even shared it.

And he stressed he was elected “on a mandate in 2024 to change the country for the better”, crucially, adding: “That’s what I intend to do.” But there is no doubt he has faced his worst week in Downing Street and events largely outside the Prime Minister’s control will now determine his political future.

Release of Peter Mandelson files

Mr Starmer’s political agony is being prolonged by the release of files relating to Peter Mandelson’s appointment as the UK’s ambassador to the US.

No10 believes the documents will show the Labour veteran lied to the PM’s team over his friendship to Epstein during the vetting process. But Downing Street lost control of the process during scenes of chaos earlier this week – handing over power to Parliament’s Intelligence and Security Committee.

All minutes of meetings, electronic communications, including WhatsApps, between Lord Mandelson, senior ministers and special advisers must be handed over. The ISC will then decide what will be publicly released but the process could take many weeks to sift through potentially thousands of documents.

There is also the added problem of the Met Police, which has requested documents are not released that could undermine its probe of Lord Mandelson. It means many weeks of uncertainty and more damaging headlines for No10.

Will Keir Starmer sack Morgan McSweeney?

One thing the Prime Minister does maintain control of is the employment of his team of advisers. Senior Labour grandee Harriet Harman has said the scandal over the Mandelson appointment could bring about an abrupt end to Mr Starmer’s premiership. She said it could “finish him off” unless he takes the right course of action, including a “real reset in No10”.

She added: “What you need from your team in No 10 is people who share your values and your principles and who will help you be the best prime minister you can be according to your true self. And clearly that is not what happened because the Keir Starmer who was DPP (Director of Public Prosecutions), would never have appointed somebody like Peter Mandelson to represent the country.”

Other Labour MPs have made a much clearer demand publicly: the PM’s chief-of-staff Morgan McSweeney must be sacked. Backbench MP Simon Opher said on Friday morning: “Keir Starmer needs to change his advisers in Number 10, I think he’s been badly advised, and he’s been really let down, particularly on this decision.”

Asked whether this meant Mr McSweeney leaving, he replied: “I think so yes. If my chief-of-staff had done this I think he would be looking for another job to be honest.”

But so far, Mr Starmer has stood by his chief-of-staff, who he has worked with since he threw his hat into the ring for the leadership of the party in 2020.

Will Keir Starmer face a leadership challenge?

Mr Starmer’s future may be determined by the 403 other Labour MPs in Parliament.

It would take 81 of them – 20% of the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP) – to write the General Secretary of the party to launch a leadership challenge. Only a handful of Labour MPs have so far publicly called for Mr Starmer to consider his position so reaching 80 willing to roll the dice is a tall order.

Despite reports Angela Rayner is “ready” for a challenge, she is still waiting for HMRC to conclude its probe into unpaid taxes on her seaside home in Hove. The issue led to her resignation as Deputy PM last year. Allies of Wes Streeting, the Health Secretary, have also repeatedly denied and rubbished claims he will challenge Mr Starmer for the keys to No10. King of the North Andy Burnham was also blocked from standing as an MP – ruling out his chances or running for the top job.

There is no clear sign yet any leadership challenger has the required support – or is willing to pull the trigger and call on Mr Starmer to resign from No10. But crucial elections may change the arithmetic further down the line.

Can Keir Starmer survive?

Even if the Prime Minister weathers the immediate storm of the Mandelson scandal his future in Downing Street is far from certain. This will only become clearer after a crucial by-election later this month and the May elections across England, Scotland and Wales.

If the results are a disaster more MPs may go public and call for the Prime Minister to resign. The Cabinet may tell the Prime Minister his time is up. A potential leadership challenger may break cover.

Alternatively, after a few days of blood-letting within Labour’s ranks, the feverish talks around Mr Starmer’s position may fizzle out with no obvious challenger. In the best-case scenario the Prime Minister may ride out the storm. The Mandleson files may vindicate his assertion he was lied to by the sacked ambassador. Labour may hold onto the looming by-election in Gorton and Denton. The May elections may not be as bad as feared.

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But at this stage this all appears to be wildly optimistic and the mood is dark in the Parliamentary Labour Party. There is a very real chance the Prime Minister – who won a landslide majority in July 2024 – may be forced out of office in the coming months.