Former BBC political journalist and presenter Andrew Marr has sensationally predicted the Starmer government will only last “days” as pressure for the Prime Minister to resign reaches fever pitch after the loss of his key aide, now ex-Downing Street Chief of Staff Morgan McSweeney.

Last week, Starmer shocked the House of Commons with his admission he knew of former Labour peer Lord Mandelson’s continued links to the American financier and convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein when Starmer appointed him to the coveted position of UK Ambassador to the US.

Since then – as the horror of Mandelson’s choice to remain in regular contact with Epstein has grown, in addition to allegations he may have passed sensitive information to Epstein who in turn has been linked to officials within Putin’s regime – concerns over Starmer’s judgement have become so serious he has been left with no option but to accept the resignation of McSweeney after he took “full responsibility” for the appointment in his letter to the Labour leader.

Starmer’s ‘utterly miserable experience’

McSweeney’s letter said: “The decision to appoint Peter Mandelson was wrong. He has damaged our party, our country and trust in politics itself.

“When asked, I advised the Prime Minister to make that appointment and I take full responsibility for that advice.”

McSweeney is largely credited with being the architect of Starmer’s 2024 landslide victory, and Labour insiders have credited Mandelson with having mentored McSweeney as part of his own role in shaping and preserving the New Labour movement.

Speaking with Henry Riley on Sunday on LBC radio, Marr was asked if Starmer has a chance to continue as PM now his “right hand had been severed” through McSweeney’s resignation.

“I think it’s over for Keir Starmer. I would not be surprised to see him resign quite quickly now.”

He added: “If he decides to dig in and carry on it’s going to be an utterly miserable experience for him. There has to be a way out.”

Marr said he thought it was “over for Starmer” and said this could happen “in days,” adding that he was “never remotely a good enough politician for the job.”

“There will be a left-wing candidate, probably Angela Rayner, and there will be a right-wing candidate, probably Wes Streeting.”

Dead man walking

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer will address Labour MPs on Monday as he battles to cling onto his premiership.

One Labour MP told the Daily Express that Keir Starmer was “probably a dead man walking.”

Long-term Starmer critic Brian Leishman, who briefly had the Labour whip removed last year for “persistent k***headery,” advised the PM that he should consider following McSweeney out the door.

He told the Press Association: “Morgan McSweeney’s resignation as Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister is in the best interests of the Government. He was at the heart of the political misjudgements and errors that have been made since winning the general election.

“It is also in the best interests of the Labour Party, as he was instrumental in the lack of internal democracy and the culture of intense factionalism we are suffering from.

“There must be a change in political direction and that comes from the very top, so the Prime Minister must look at his own position and question whether he should follow McSweeney’s lead one last time, and resign for the good of the country and the Labour Party.”

Vidhya Alakeson and Jill Cuthbertson, who were Morgan McSweeney’s deputies, have been appointed Sir Keir Starmer’s joint acting chiefs of staff following Mr McSweeney’s departure, it has been widely reported.

Ms Alakeson has responsibility for policy and delivery and has managed Downing Street’s external relationships.

Ms Cuthbertson has managed the Prime Minister’s diary and has been described as the ultimate gatekeeper to Sir Keir.