British PM's director of communications resigns

LONDON -- British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's director of communications Tim Allan has resigned, Sky News reported Monday.

"I have decided to stand down to allow a new No10 team to be built. I wish the PM and his team every success," Allan said in a brief statement sent to local media.

Allan took up the post of director of communications in September 2025 and served in the role for five months.

Another senior official, Morgan McSweeney, resigned on Sunday from his post as Starmer's chief of staff following controversy over the appointment of Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the United States. Starmer has asked his deputy chiefs of staff, Jill Cuthbertson and Vidhya Alakeson, to serve as acting chiefs of staff.

Starmer on Thursday apologized for his decision to appoint Mandelson as the ambassador, after fresh revelations about the former official's links to Jeffrey Epstein sparked political scandals in Britain.

Mandelson was appointed ambassador to Washington in early 2025 but was dismissed by Starmer after seven months as renewed questions about his past emerged.