Appointment of Peter Mandelson as ambassador to US divides Labour MPs

Ministers hail peer as a heavyweight but others question the selection of a previously outspoken critic of party policyPeter Mandelson has been formally unveiled as the UK’s ambassador to Washington, with a series of ministers hailing him as a political heavyweight who will be a reliable conduit into a potentially chaotic second Donald Trump administration.Some Labour MPs were, however, less enthusiastic, questioning why Keir Starmer would reward and trust a figure who had previously weighed in with outspoken criticism of the party’s policies and personalities. Continue reading...

Appointment of Peter Mandelson as ambassador to US divides Labour MPs

Ministers hail peer as a heavyweight but others question the selection of a previously outspoken critic of party policy

Peter Mandelson has been formally unveiled as the UK’s ambassador to Washington, with a series of ministers hailing him as a political heavyweight who will be a reliable conduit into a potentially chaotic second Donald Trump administration.

Some Labour MPs were, however, less enthusiastic, questioning why Keir Starmer would reward and trust a figure who had previously weighed in with outspoken criticism of the party’s policies and personalities. Continue reading...