A Guide to High-Profile Exits Under Keir Starmer's Two-Year Tenure
There has been a steady succession of departures by ministers and senior officials over the past two years under Prime Minister Keir Starmer's leadership. The exit of top civil servant Olly Robbins from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office represents just the latest in a series of high-profile resignations. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the most significant exits since Starmer came to power in July 2024.
Officials Who Have Departed
Sue Gray served as the prime minister's chief of staff from July to October 2024. Previously known for investigating the Partygate scandal under Boris Johnson, Gray found herself at the center of political controversy shortly after Labour took office. She faced criticism from some Labour figures for the party's involvement in the so-called freebies scandal, with claims that she lacked political experience despite her deep understanding of the civil service. The revelation that she earned £3,000 more than the prime minister sparked backlash among advisers, and she was also blamed for lower special adviser pay compared to Conservative-era levels, leading many Labour advisers to unionize.
Morgan McSweeney took over as chief of staff from October 2024 to February 2026 following Gray's departure. Previously the campaign director during Labour's successful 2024 general election, McSweeney resigned amid controversy over the appointment of Peter Mandelson as US ambassador. His position became untenable after emails revealed the extent of Mandelson's continuing relationship with convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. McSweeney accepted full responsibility for advising Starmer on the appointment.
Chris Wormald served as cabinet secretary and head of the civil service from 2024 to 2026. The Mandelson-Epstein scandal also impacted Wormald, with Starmer effectively forcing his departure in February 2026. The prime minister announced Wormald was stepping down by mutual consent after losing confidence in him over the Mandelson approval process and perceived insufficient progress on civil service reform.
Olly Robbins, permanent secretary at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office from 2025 to 2026, was forced out after his department overruled a decision to fail Peter Mandelson during security vetting. As the Foreign Office's most senior official in late January 2025, Robbins made the decision that paved the way for Mandelson's ambassadorial appointment. Prime Minister Starmer and Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper reportedly lost confidence in him, leading to his resignation.
Ministers Who Have Resigned
Angela Rayner served as deputy prime minister from July 2024 to September 2025, also holding positions as housing secretary and deputy Labour leader. Rayner resigned after the prime minister's ethics adviser found she breached the ministerial code regarding underpayment of stamp duty on her £800,000 seaside flat. While the adviser noted she acted with integrity, the tax affair violation proved damaging to Starmer, who had initially supported her.
Josh Simons was a Cabinet Office minister from September 2025 to February 2026. He resigned after The Guardian revealed he had falsely linked reporters to a pro-Kremlin network in emails to GCHQ, despite claiming surprise about a PR firm's investigation into their journalism. Simons, who previously ran the thinktank Labour Together, stated his position had become a distraction from government work.
Tulip Siddiq served as economic secretary to the Treasury from July 2024 to January 2025. She resigned amid controversy over her close ties to her aunt, the ousted prime minister of Bangladesh accused of corruption. While an investigation found no rule violations regarding properties given to her family by allies of Sheikh Hasina's regime, Siddiq faced ongoing scrutiny. In December 2025, a Bangladeshi court sentenced her in absentia to two years for complicity in corrupt land deals, though the UK lacks an extradition treaty with Bangladesh and Siddiq denies the charges.
Louise Haigh was transport secretary from July to November 2024. She resigned just twelve hours after it emerged she had been convicted of fraud in 2014 over a missing work phone from her previous employment at Aviva. Haigh stated in her resignation letter that the issue would inevitably distract from government work.
These departures highlight the challenges and controversies that have marked Keir Starmer's first two years as prime minister, with resignations spanning both the civil service and ministerial ranks over various ethical, political, and procedural issues.
