Starmer under growing pressure as another key staffer quits

Keir Starmer faces increasing pressure as communications chief Tim Allan resigns, following another key staffer's departure.

U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer was under mounting pressure on Monday (February 9, 2026) as his communications head, Tim Allan, quit to “allow a new No. 10 team to be built”.

The departure comes less than a day after key Starmer ally and Chief of Staff Morgan McSweeney resigned after taking “full responsibility” for the appointment of Peter Mandelson as Britain’s U.S. envoy. Mr. Mandelson was sacked by Mr. Starmer in September after it came to light that his ties with child sex offender and financier Jeffrey Epstein were stronger than was previously known to the public.

Mr. Allan, who was part of the Tony Blair Government’s communications team and ran a private PR agency, was appointed by Mr. Starmer in September 2025. His departure is the latest test of Mr. Starmer’s ability to stay on in No. 10, with some MPs from his own party as well as the opposition calling for his departure.

Labour, under Mr. Starmer, won a large majority in the U.K. Parliament in July 2024, but his government has been beleaguered by rifts within the party over issues including welfare spending and wavering on campaign commitments related to not raising income tax rates.

Additionally, both Mr. Starmer’s party and the opposition Conservative Party have faced a strong and growing Reform U.K., a nativist party that grew out of the movement for Brexit (Britain’s departure from the EU).

Mr. Starmer is expected to meet with his colleagues at the weekly Monday night (February 9) Parliamentary Labour Party meeting. Keeping enough MPs on his side will be key to his ability to continue in office.