In the end, the PM had little option.
Faced with an escalating crisis and ever-louder calls from his MPs that someone had to take responsibility for the Mandelson scandal, the PM’s chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, is gone.
Politics latest: Starmer reacts as chief of staff Morgan McSweeney resigns
It will be a bitter blow for Starmer, who had repeatedly said all week he had full confidence in McSweeney.
No 10 was trying to hold on to the PM’s right-hand man, who had worked with Starmer from opposition, through the election campaign and into power.
As late as Sunday morning, cabinet minister Pat McFadden was saying that he did not think McSweeney should go over the Mandelson appointment.
Read more: From Svengali to sacked, who is Morgan McSweeney?
That the government changed course reveals the deep peril Starmer is in.
Faced with a chorus of anger from MPs that showed no sign of abating, No 10 offered a scalp.
The hope will be that Mr McSweeney’s departure from the heart of the No 10 operation will go some way to satisfying some of his MPs who were demanding a reset.
