British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's communications director, Tim Allan, resigned this week amid ongoing turbulence within the prime minister's office. Allan's departure follows the resignation of chief of staff Morgan McSweeney, marking the second senior exit linked to the fallout from Peter Mandelson's controversial ambassadorial appointment.
Allan, who assumed his role in September 2025, stated in a brief release: "I have decided to stand down to allow a new No 10 team to be built." His five-month tenure coincided with mounting scrutiny of Starmer's administration following revelations about Mandelson's connections to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.
The leadership crisis deepened Sunday when McSweeney stepped down as chief of staff. Deputy chiefs Jill Cuthbertson and Vidhya Alakeson have temporarily assumed leadership responsibilities while Starmer seeks permanent replacements.
This political storm stems from Mandelson's seven-month tenure as Washington ambassador in 2025, which ended abruptly after renewed questions emerged about his past associations. Starmer publicly apologized last Thursday for the appointment, calling it "a misjudgment that won't be repeated."
Observers note the resignations highlight growing challenges for Starmer's government as it approaches its second year in power, with opposition leaders demanding greater transparency about vetting processes for high-level appointments.
