Starmer’s Communications Chief Resigns Amid Mandelson-Epstein Fallout

Tim Allan, the director of communications for Prime Minister Keir Starmer, resigned on Monday, becoming the second senior member of the prime minister’s team to leave in less than 24 hours. Allan, a veteran political operative who joined the government about five months ago, quit shortly after Morgan McSweeney stepped down as chief of staff over ties between Jeffrey Epstein and the former ambassador Peter Mandelson; Mr.

McSweeney acknowledged that he had urged Mr. Starmer to appoint Mr. Mandelson in late 2024. Allan, a longtime friend of Mr. Mandelson who worked with him in the 1990s, said, "I have decided to stand down to allow a new No. 10 team to be built." He added, "I wish the P.M.

and his team every success." The decision to appoint Mr. Mandelson sits at the center of a political crisis after files released by the U.S. Justice Department showed a longer and closer friendship with Mr. Epstein than was previously known. The documents appear to show that Mr.

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