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Labour veteran Peter Mandelson to be UK ambassador to US Labour veteran Peter Mandelson to be UK ambassador to US
(about 2 hours later)
The prime minister is expected to name Lord Peter Mandelson - one of the best known figures in British politics - as the UK's next ambassador to the US.The prime minister is expected to name Lord Peter Mandelson - one of the best known figures in British politics - as the UK's next ambassador to the US.
The Labour grandee served in multiple ministerial roles under Tony Blair and Gordon Brown before taking up a life peerage in the Lords, and was considered to be one of the frontrunners for the position.The Labour grandee served in multiple ministerial roles under Tony Blair and Gordon Brown before taking up a life peerage in the Lords, and was considered to be one of the frontrunners for the position.
Dubbed the "Prince of Darkness" during his years as New Labour's spin doctor, the 71-year-old will now be the key link between Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer with Donald Trump's incoming administration during a crucial time for US-UK diplomacy. Dubbed the "Prince of Darkness" during his years as New Labour's spin doctor, the 71-year-old will now be the key link between the prime minister and Donald Trump's incoming administration during a crucial time for US-UK diplomacy.
He will replace Dame Karen Pierce, whose term in Washington DC is due to end as Trump enters the White House in early 2025. Like other senior Labour figures, Lord Mandelson has a record of criticising Donald Trump, once describing him as "little short of a white nationalist and racist".
In a recently unearthed interview with an Italian journalist in 2019, Lord Mandelson described Trump as a "reckless and a danger to the world".
"What Donald Trump represents and believes is anathema to mainstream British opinion and the idea that as a result of Brexit, we have to kowtow to an American president who holds those views will outrage people in Britain," he added.
In a 2018 interview with the Evening Standard, he also called Trump "a bully" who thinks "the US will gain in trade only when others are losing".
Since being touted as a potential candidate for the US-ambassador role, considered the most prestigious diplomatic post in the UK government, Lord Mandelson has softened his language on Trump.
In November he made a pitch on the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme to create "a new relationship rather than a special one" with the US.
He also spoke to the News Agents podcast, and said the new Trump presidency was going to have a profound impact on the security and economic stability of the rest of world.
"It's absolutely essential that we establish a relationship with President Trump that enables us not only to understand and interpret what he's doing but to influence it", he said.
He added that the Labour government should try to "reconnect" with Trump's ally and tech multi-billionaire Elon Musk, who has been critical of Sir Keir's government and has been appointed head of new advisory team the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge).
As first reported in The Times,, external Lord Mandelson will replace Dame Karen Pierce, whose term in Washington DC is due to end as Trump enters the White House in early 2025.
UK ambassadors are normally career diplomats or civil servants, but Downing Street said choosing a leading Labour politician "shows just how importantly we see our relationship with the Trump administration".UK ambassadors are normally career diplomats or civil servants, but Downing Street said choosing a leading Labour politician "shows just how importantly we see our relationship with the Trump administration".
"We're sending someone close to the prime minister with unrivalled political and policy experience, particularly on the crucial issue of trade," No 10 added. Labour Health Minister Stephen Kinnock said Lord Mandelson would make "an excellent appointment" as US ambassador.
"He's the ideal candidate to represent the UK's economic and security interests in the USA." Kinnock, whose father Neil Kinnock gave Lord Mandelson his first senior role in Labour in the 1980s, pointed to the former EU Trade Commissioner's "really strong experience in trade".
Lord Mandelson has been a divisive figures in British politics over many years. "He's got very good political contacts in Washington DC and I think his appointment would be a reflection of the importance of the US-UK special relationship and I think Peter Mandelson would be a very good person to take that relationship forward," Kinnock added.
But Lord Mandelson has been a divisive figures in British politics over many years.
He resigned twice as a minister - once for failing to declare a home loan from a cabinet colleague, and a second time over accusations of using his position to influence a passport application.He resigned twice as a minister - once for failing to declare a home loan from a cabinet colleague, and a second time over accusations of using his position to influence a passport application.
As a staunch critic of Brexit and advocate for global free-trade, he does not appear to be an obvious fit with the incoming Trump administration.As a staunch critic of Brexit and advocate for global free-trade, he does not appear to be an obvious fit with the incoming Trump administration.
But the former cabinet minister and EU trade negotiator has enormous political experience, and Downing Street may have judged that sending someone so close to the big political figures in the UK may go down well at the White House.But the former cabinet minister and EU trade negotiator has enormous political experience, and Downing Street may have judged that sending someone so close to the big political figures in the UK may go down well at the White House.
Lord Mandelson has not commented on the appointment, but in November he made a pitch on the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme to create "a new relationship rather than a special one" with the US.
In November he also spoke to the News Agents podcast, and said the new Trump presidency was going to have a profound impact on the security and economic stability of the rest of world.
"It's absolutely essential that we establish a relationship with President Trump that enables us not only to understand and interpret what he's doing but to influence it", he said.
He added that the Labour government should try to "reconnect" with Trump's ally and tech billionaire Elon Musk, who has been critical of Sir Keir's government and has been appointed head of new advisory team the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge).
Trump had once called Reform UK Leader Nigel Farage a "great choice" for ambassador - but Labour were unlikely to choose a political opponent such as Farage.Trump had once called Reform UK Leader Nigel Farage a "great choice" for ambassador - but Labour were unlikely to choose a political opponent such as Farage.
Lord Mandelson has suggested making use of Farage's connections in the US as a "bridgehead, both to President Trump and to Elon Musk and others".Lord Mandelson has suggested making use of Farage's connections in the US as a "bridgehead, both to President Trump and to Elon Musk and others".
"You've got to be pragmatic, practical about this," he said."You've got to be pragmatic, practical about this," he said.
Farage has meanwhile said that he "might disagree with Mandelson on his politics, but he's a very intelligent man" and would be good choice for ambassador.Farage has meanwhile said that he "might disagree with Mandelson on his politics, but he's a very intelligent man" and would be good choice for ambassador.
Sir David Manning, who served as the UK's ambassador to the US between 2003 and 2007, told BBC Radio 4's The World Tonight programme that Lord Mandelson was a "very articulate, highly intelligent, extremely experienced operator".Sir David Manning, who served as the UK's ambassador to the US between 2003 and 2007, told BBC Radio 4's The World Tonight programme that Lord Mandelson was a "very articulate, highly intelligent, extremely experienced operator".
However, he cautioned that the role would see him coming up against "all sorts of issues that will be contentious and difficult" including climate change, dealing with China and the situation in the Middle East.However, he cautioned that the role would see him coming up against "all sorts of issues that will be contentious and difficult" including climate change, dealing with China and the situation in the Middle East.
Lord Mandelson was the Labour MP for Hartlepool from 1992 to 2004, during which time he served as Northern Ireland secretary and business secretary under Blair. He stood down as an MP in 2004 to become a European Commissioner before returning to the UK to become Gordon Brown's most senior minister.Lord Mandelson was the Labour MP for Hartlepool from 1992 to 2004, during which time he served as Northern Ireland secretary and business secretary under Blair. He stood down as an MP in 2004 to become a European Commissioner before returning to the UK to become Gordon Brown's most senior minister.
Throughout his career Lord Mandelson has been seen as a networker, cultivating contacts with senior figures in global and domestic politics.Throughout his career Lord Mandelson has been seen as a networker, cultivating contacts with senior figures in global and domestic politics.
Sir Keir said on Thursday the UK would "have to make sure that we avoid tariffs" when asked about Trump's comments, and reiterated that he wanted to improve trade with Washington.Sir Keir said on Thursday the UK would "have to make sure that we avoid tariffs" when asked about Trump's comments, and reiterated that he wanted to improve trade with Washington.
Trump has pledged to impose wide-ranging tariffs on his first day in office, which experts say could cost the UK £22bn.Trump has pledged to impose wide-ranging tariffs on his first day in office, which experts say could cost the UK £22bn.
North America correspondent Anthony Zurcher makes sense of US politics in his twice weekly US Election Unspun newsletter. Readers in the UK can sign up here. Those outside the UK can sign up here.North America correspondent Anthony Zurcher makes sense of US politics in his twice weekly US Election Unspun newsletter. Readers in the UK can sign up here. Those outside the UK can sign up here.