Epstein files saga: UK PM’s chief of staff resigns; Dalai Lama issues denial

LONDON/PARIS/NEW DELHI: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s chief of staff Morgan McSweeney stepped down on Sunday as political pressure mounted over the government’s handling of revelations connected to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

McSweeney’s resignation follows intense criticism of Starmer’s decision to appoint senior Labour figure Peter Mandelson as Britain’s ambassador to the United States in 2024, despite disclosures outlining Mandelson’s past association with Epstein. The issue has spiralled into what analysts describe as the most serious challenge of Starmer’s 18 months in office.

In a statement shared by political correspondents on X, McSweeney acknowledged that he had advised the prime minister in favour of Mandelson’s appointment and accepted responsibility for the fallout. He said the decision had harmed public trust and damaged both the government and the Labour Party.

McSweeney, 48, was a key architect of Starmer’s rise to power, and his exit represents a significant blow to a government already struggling with poor polling numbers. With Starmer’s popularity sagging, some Labour lawmakers have begun openly questioning his judgement, raising doubts over whether the resignation will be enough to quell internal dissent.

Mandelson was dismissed from his ambassadorial post last September after his links to Epstein resurfaced. He is now reportedly under police investigation for alleged misconduct while in office. Britain’s foreign ministry said it is reviewing a severance payment made to Mandelson, which media reports estimate to be between £38,750 and £55,000 after just seven months in the role.

EPSTEIN FALLOUT SPREADS INTERNATIONALLY

The controversy has also rippled beyond Britain. In India, the office of the Dalai Lama issued a categorical denial after Chinese media claimed the Tibetan spiritual leader appeared in recently released US government files related to Epstein.

The Dalai Lama’s office said he had never met Epstein nor authorised any contact with him, adding that references to his name in the documents did not indicate any interaction. An independent review of the files showed repeated mentions of the Dalai Lama’s name without evidence of personal links.

In France, veteran politician Jack Lang was forced to relinquish his post as president of the Arab World Institute (IMA) amid growing scrutiny. Lang, who has led the Paris-based cultural institution since 2013, offered his resignation in a letter to Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, who confirmed that steps were being taken to appoint an interim replacement.

Lang, 86, denied any wrongdoing but has become the most prominent French figure drawn into the latest disclosures. French prosecutors announced on Friday that they had opened a preliminary investigation into Lang and his daughter, Caroline, over suspected laundering of proceeds linked to aggravated tax fraud, following their mention in Epstein-related files.

As further documents continue to emerge, the widening controversy has placed political leaders across several countries under renewed scrutiny, intensifying calls for accountability and transparency.