Sir Keir Starmer’s chief of staff should not resign over the Mandelson scandal because the responsibility “lies with the prime minister”, a cabinet minister has said.

Speaking to Sky News’ Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips, Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden defended Morgan McSweeney, who several Labour MPs believe should quit or be sacked.

Mr McSweeney is said to have pushed for Peter Mandelson to be appointed ambassador to the US last year, despite his known links to paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.

Asked if he should go, Mr McFadden said: “I don’t think he should. In the end… it’s a prime ministerial appointment. And prime ministers have to take responsibility for the decisions that they make.”

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Lord Mandelson was sacked from the Washington role in September over emails he sent to Epstein following his conviction for sex offences in 2008.

However, anger over the appointment intensified this week following the latest tranche of Epstein files, which suggest Lord Mandelson may have leaked marked sensitive information to his friend after the global financial crisis, when he was business secretary in Gordon Brown’s government.

Some MPs have openly called for Sir Keir to resign after he seemed to confirm that Lord Mandelson’s ongoing relationship with Epstein came up in the disgraced former ambassador’s vetting.

However Mr McFadden said a change of leadership would cause reputational damage as he defended his boss.

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He told Trevor Phillips: “I think he’s got a five-year mandate, which was just voted for 18 months or so ago in a general election. His task is by no means complete, barely begun.

“And I also think it is not good for the country to change its prime minister every 18 months or two years is leading to chaos and uncertainty, economically, politically and reputationally around the world.

“So I know this has been a difficult week, but I think we should stick with the prime minister, support him. He admits he’s made a bad mistake here. He has apologised for it, and I’m sure he will learn from that going forward.”

Mr McFadden also said Lord Mandelson should return the payoff he received after being sacked or “give it to a charity, perhaps one involving violence against women and girls”.

He added: “I think taking a payoff in these circumstances, I don’t think the public will think much of that.”

The Met Office has issued a fresh weather warning for heavy rain, with more than 200 flood alerts still in place.

The new yellow warning is for southwest England and large parts of South Wales, and lasts from 12pm on Monday to midnight.

It spans Cornwall to Portsmouth, with affected areas in Wales including Cardiff.

Meanwhile, the Environment Agency has 88 flood warnings in place, mostly across southwest England and the East and West Midlands.

There are also 223 flood alerts.

See the weather forecast in your area

A flood warning means flooding is expected, and an alert means flooding is possible.

The Met Office said on Thursday that rain had fallen every day of 2026 so far in southwest England and South Wales.

There has been 50% more rainfall than usual in both, the forecaster added.

Both have experienced a far wetter than average January, with 50% more rainfall than usual, the forecasters said.

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Decorated Olympic skier Mikaela Shiffrin wants to represent her own “values” at this year’s Milan Cortina Olympic Games.

“I think there’s a lot of hardship in the world globally, and there’s a lot of heartbreak. There’s a lot of violence. It can be tough to reconcile that when you’re also competing for medals at an Olympic event,” the two-time gold medalist said during her media availability in Italy on Saturday.

During her extended answer, Shiffrin read aloud a quote from Nelson Mandela, which was also recited during the opening ceremonies.

Mikaela Shiffrin speaks during a press conference during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games at the Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium in Cortina d’Ampezzo on Feb. 7, 2026.  (Stefano Rellandini/AFP via Getty Images)

“‘Peace is not just the absence of conflict. Peace is the creation of an environment where we can all flourish, regardless of race, color, creed, religion, gender, class, caste, or any other social markers of difference,'” Shiffrin said, reading the quote from her phone.

“And for me, as this relates to the Olympics, I’m really hoping to show up and represent my own values. Values of inclusivity, values of diversity, and kindness, and sharing, tenacity, work ethic, showing up with my team every single day, and the values that we bring and put out on the mountain and on the hill every single day. I’m hoping to represent those who have been supporting me this entire time.

“I’m really thankful to be here, and my greatest hope for this Olympic Games, from a broader perspective, is that it is a beautiful show of cooperation and of competition.”

United States’ Mikaela Shiffrin celebrates winning an alpine ski, women’s World Cup slalom, in Spindleruv Mlyn, Czech Republic, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)

The questioning for Shiffrin comes on the brink of numerous American athletes being asked how they felt representing the United States at the Australian Open as it pertains to President Donald Trump‘s current second term.

Anti-ICE protests occurred in Milan last week after the announcement that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents would be deployed at this year’s Games. 

U.S. Embassy officials told The Associated Press last week that ICE agents would support diplomatic security details and would not run any immigration enforcement operations, considering they would be in a foreign country.

Milan Mayor Giuseppe Sala said ICE would not be welcome in the city, and he cited images of masked agents in Minneapolis. 

People take part in an Anti-ICE demonstration, ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026.  (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

“This is a militia that kills, a militia that enters into the homes of people, signing their own permission slips. It is clear they are not welcome in Milan, without a doubt,” Sala told RTL Radio 102 before ICE’s reported security involvement was revealed.

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The conflict between the administration and student organizations in Delhi’s Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has once again come to the fore. Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad JNU unit has lodged a sharp protest accusing the university administration of dictatorship regarding expulsion and heavy fines. ABVP says that repressive policies are being used to suppress the student movement, which will not be accepted under any circumstances.

Expulsion and fine were termed as undemocratic steps

ABVP JNU has accused the administration of trying to suppress the voice of students by using expulsion and financial punishment as weapons. The organization says that by expelling the active workers, their educational future is being played with, which is completely undemocratic. ABVP clearly said that nationalist students are not afraid of such cowardly action.

In protest against administrative dictatorship, ABVP workers expressed their anger by burning copies of repressive orders. Activists say that this is not a symbolic protest, but a warning against a system that is bent on crushing the rights of students. The organization clarified that their movement is peaceful, but will stand firmly against injustice.

CPO manual described as a threat to the independent environment

ABVP’s stand regarding CPO manual has been strict and clear from day one. The organization says that this manual is fatal for the free and democratic environment of a university like JNU and it should be repealed with immediate effect. ABVP alleged that the administration is taking recourse to such black laws to hide its incompetence.

ABVP JNU also made it clear that it is strictly against any kind of anarchy and vandalism in the name of protest. The organization said that public property is the heritage of the university and damaging it is not appropriate in any way. ABVP strongly condemned the leftist organizations by accusing them of indulging in politics of sabotage.

ABVP President termed the administration as a complete failure

ABVP JNU President Mayank Panchal said that their main protest is against the dictatorial structure which is violating the rights of students by expelling them. He said that the fine amounting to about Rs 4,83,000 and the expulsion orders highlight the failure of the administration. ABVP is firm on its demand of complete abolition of CPO manual and immediate reinstatement of expelled workers.

ABVP JNU Minister Praveen Kumar Piyush said that neither the hooliganism of the administration will be tolerated nor will any kind of vandalism in the campus be supported. He said that the administration should understand that the strategy of scaring the students is not going to work anymore. By burning the orders of expulsion and illegal fines, ABVP has given a clear message that it does not accept this system.

ABVP reiterated that it will continue to work for the interests of the general students of JNU. The organization says that its struggle against administrative dictatorship will continue till final victory. ABVP is ready to go to any level to protect student rights and democratic values.