The media reported on the possible resignation of Starmer's national security adviser

Jonathan Powell, the national security adviser to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, may leave his post before the end of the year. This was reported on February 15 by The Guardian, citing sources.

According to the newspaper, Powell declined an offer to take over the post of Starmer's chief of staff after Morgan McSweeney left. The post became vacant amid the scandal surrounding the appointment of Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the United States, despite information about his past contacts with American financier Jeffrey Epstein, who was convicted of pedophilia.

According to the newspaper, Powell is not interested in returning to the work he did during Tony Blair's premiership from 1997 to 2007. According to supporters of the adviser, the refusal to discuss a possible appointment is related, among other things, to his intention to focus on the mediation consulting company he founded in 2011.

The Guardian emphasizes that Powell plays a key role in shaping the foreign policy course of the current government. In particular, he oversees cooperation with European leaders within the framework of the coalition of the willing to support Ukraine.

At the same time, Downing Street sources denied information about his possible resignation. According to them, Powell is not going to leave the Prime Minister's residence and will continue to serve as national security adviser. They also stated that the reports about the offer to take the post of chief of staff are not true.

Filth of darkness: new names of European politicians have been discovered in the Epstein case

The files mention former and current British prime ministers, as well as top EU officials, hundreds of times.

On September 11 last year, Starmer fired Mandelson from his post as the kingdom's ambassador to the United States because of his ties to Epstein. The emails show that the depth and extent of his relationship with the financier are significantly different from those known at the time of his appointment.

The Telegraph newspaper reported on February 3 that Mandelson may be deprived of a pension paid by the European Union (EU) because of his mention in the documents on the Epstein case. It is noted that in 2009, the man sent a confidential British document to the financier.

Sky News reported on February 8 that McSweeney resigned amid the scandal surrounding Mandelson's appointment as ambassador to the United States. The publication clarifies that his appointment, which was subsequently withdrawn, caused criticism both within the ruling Labor Party and from the public.

On February 8, Kirill Dmitriev, head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), commenting on the resignation of Morgan McSweeney, Starmer's chief of staff, amid the scandal surrounding the appointment of Epstein's friend as ambassador to the United States, suggested that the Prime minister himself might leave after that.