Keir Starmer Under Pressure: Who Could Succeed Him As Mandelson Scandal Threatens UK PM's Future?

Last Updated:February 06, 2026, 02:45 IST

With Keir Starmer under fire over the Mandelson-Epstein scandal, speculation grows over who could lead Labour if a challenge emerges.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is facing the gravest political crisis of his premiership after a scandal involving the appointment of Peter Mandelson as the United Kingdom’s ambassador to the United States triggered anger within his own Labour Party and fresh public backlash.

Starmer on Thursday apologised to victims of disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein for appointing Mandelson, a longtime associate of Epstein, to the prestigious diplomatic post. The apology came as opposition parties called for his resignation and some Labour lawmakers questioned his judgement.

“I am sorry," Starmer said in London, addressing Epstein’s victims. “Sorry for what was done to you, sorry that so many people with power failed you, sorry for having believed Mandelson’s lies and appointed him."

Despite the apology, Starmer insisted he would not step down, saying: “I intend to go on doing that vital work."

Is Keir Starmer’s Position Shaky?

Starmer’s leadership is under intense pressure both from the opposition and from within his own party.

Labour MPs forced the government to submit all documents related to Mandelson’s appointment to Parliament’s Intelligence and Security Committee, rejecting Starmer’s initial plan to release only selected material.

“The mood yesterday was the angriest I think I’ve ever seen Labour MPs in the 16 years that I’ve been in Parliament," Labour lawmaker Karl Turner told Times Radio. “We can’t pretend that this is not a crisis situation."

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch called Starmer’s position “clearly untenable" and urged Labour MPs to support a no-confidence vote, saying it was “a question of when, not if, he goes."

The crisis comes ahead of a crucial by-election this month and local elections in May, where Labour is widely expected to perform poorly.

Political analysts say repeated policy U-turns and internal disputes have already dented Starmer’s authority. The Mandelson affair has deepened doubts about his leadership and judgement.

Why Is Starmer In Trouble?

The immediate cause is his decision to appoint Peter Mandelson as ambassador to Washington last year despite Mandelson’s long-documented ties to Jeffrey Epstein.

Newly released files last week revealed intimate email exchanges between Mandelson and Epstein, as well as evidence of financial dealings and the sharing of potentially sensitive information.

Starmer admitted he knew Mandelson had maintained contact with Epstein even after the financier’s 2008 conviction for soliciting a minor, but said he was unaware of the “depth and darkness" of the relationship.

He fired Mandelson in September after only seven months in the post, but the damage to his own credibility has been severe.

Labour MPs have also blamed Starmer’s chief of staff Morgan McSweeney, a close Mandelson ally, for pushing the appointment. Opposition parties are demanding McSweeney’s removal, though Starmer has so far defended him.

Who Could Replace Starmer?

Despite the anger within Labour ranks, there is no obvious successor to Keir Starmer, according to a report by The Guardian.

The paper said new MPs were openly discussing leadership challenges in the Commons tea room, but admitted no contender appeared “brave enough to trigger Starmer’s downfall."

Angela Rayner is seen as a potential frontrunner after her intervention helped avert a parliamentary defeat, but MPs noted she is awaiting an HMRC ruling over unpaid stamp duty, which weakens her position.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting is said to have support among some MPs, but his past closeness to Peter Mandelson is now viewed as a liability.

Several MPs have also mentioned Defence Minister Al Carns as a possible alternative, though he has not indicated any interest.

One senior Labour MP told The Guardian: “The biggest thing Keir has going for him right now is that there’s not an obvious successor."

Peter Mandelson, a former EU trade commissioner and a key architect of Tony Blair’s “New Labour" project, was appointed Britain’s ambassador to the United States in February last year.

The decision quickly drew criticism because of Mandelson’s friendship with Epstein, who died in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.

Last Friday, new documents were released showing warm and extensive correspondence between Mandelson and Epstein, including private photographs and discussions that suggested a close personal bond.

The revelations led to Mandelson resigning from the House of Lords earlier this week. He is also now facing a police investigation into alleged misconduct in public office.

For Starmer, the core issue is that he appointed Mandelson despite knowing about at least some of these connections.

News world Keir Starmer Under Pressure: Who Could Succeed Him As Mandelson Scandal Threatens UK PM's Future?

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