Lord Peter Mandelson UK’s ambassador to the USA

I think you mean Jeffrey Epstein GG, Brian Epstein was The Beatles manager and Svengali.

I remember seeing pictures of Mandelson and George Osborne schmoozing on some oligarch's yacht together a while back, it kind of posed the question on what's the difference between some of the so called political elite, they're pretty interchangeable in many respects.

How Jeffrey Epstein gathered the great and the good, the two shady Bills, Clinton and Gates, into his sphere of influence and other so called do gooders well known MEN who appeared to enjoy his company.

Peter Mandleson AKA “Prince of Darkness”.

I cannot bring myself to use Lord.

I am convinced there is a scandal lurking somewhere.

He makes my flesh crawl.

A Bill Gates look alike. The Prince of Darkness. The King of spin. Sacked by Blair for not telling about a loan. Then again after a passport scandal involving the Hinduja brothers.
Thought he could be the next Oxford Chancellor, failed.
What a choice for the most important diplomatic role for the UK.

Freya5

A Bill Gates look alike. The Prince of Darkness. The King of spin. Sacked by Blair for not telling about a loan. Then again after a passport scandal involving the Hinduja brothers.
Thought he could be the next Oxford Chancellor, failed.
What a choice for the most important diplomatic role for the UK.

What a choice for the most important diplomatic role for the UK.

But he is "intensely relaxed about people getting filthy rich", which might help.

Can he play golf? 😁

I am going to do one of my predictions. Let's just ignore my track record
Within a year this will go horribly wrong, involving one scandal or another, and cause embarrassment for the labour party.

Just what we need (not) , a 'lord' who was forced to resign twice as a Minister. What a toe curling disgrace our political establishment is.

Wasn't he the MP for Hartlepool? Just wondering how many of his, then constituents, were in the filthy rich bracket

Still restoring trust in politics then? Oh sure.

Given the President-elect I think the Ambassador post was very difficult to fill. It probably does need an exceptional individual and one with political gifts rather than a career diplomat. Whether Mandelson is the right choice remains to be seen but if he can be effective in representing the UK to Trump we may be grateful in due course.

Dickens

Freya5

A Bill Gates look alike. The Prince of Darkness. The King of spin. Sacked by Blair for not telling about a loan. Then again after a passport scandal involving the Hinduja brothers.
Thought he could be the next Oxford Chancellor, failed.
What a choice for the most important diplomatic role for the UK.

What a choice for the most important diplomatic role for the UK.

But he is "intensely relaxed about people getting filthy rich", which might help.

I'll always remember that.
He should get along just fine with the man in charge, then.

I mean Musk, of course.

Just the person to send to the US to deal with President Trump - and in a civil partnership. Far more clever and more devious than Trump, with a respectable home life that runs counter to all Trumps rightwing anti abortion anti LB etc inclinations.

This is an appointment that is so inspired it might just be a sign that this, so far, dismally dissappointing administration is finally getting its ducks in a row.

I believe I read somewhere that Mandelson said something along the lines to Starmer, to maybe recruit Farage into some sort of ambassadorial role as he has Trump's ear. Ooo! I bet that went down like a bucket of sick even if there was some element of pragmatism behind it.

Have asked GNHQ to amend my OP 🤦‍♀️

Peter Mandelson will also bring huge experience of trade from his time at the (then) Department for Trade and Industry and later as Business Secretary and European Commissioner for Trade.

A flawed figure, yes, a long acquaintance as a L party member with his place in the Labour Party full of contradictions, but with so much relevant experience and someone capable of understanding/dealing with the machinations about to hit the USA, more than a career diplomat. Wait and see with interest.

I did like the idea Allira of "President Musk" as that's becoming a meme already in USA politics.

The first thing it reminded me of was that twerp, Lord John something who was the UK ambassador to the US in the West Wing!

Yesterday's men making a come back. Was there a more sickening appointment than Lord friggin' Cameron as Foreign Secretary, again because he was thought to have the expertise. Expertise maybe, mired in Scandal definitely, but that's politics for you, those that inhabit the same murky waters rarely held to account.

Galaxy

I am going to do one of my predictions. Let's just ignore my track record
Within a year this will go horribly wrong, involving one scandal or another, and cause embarrassment for the labour party.

I think it is likely to be one extreme or the other, as you say horribly wrong within a year or he is the very man to be dealing with Trump and a triumph in the making. For all our sakes I hope it is the second. I think Sir Humphrey would say it was a brave choice.

An inspired post. Mandleson is more than a match for Trump and his ilk.
He is as slippery and devious as an eel, exactly what is needed.

You need someone who's been round the block a number of times to understand the labyrinthine nature of US politics. Could be interesting after Musk's offer to Reform UK (I think that killed off any final hope Farage might be acting in UK interests over their as opposed to his own) and Trumps first defeat with the Senate.

Definitely flawed and controversial but - very experienced, will be able to manipulate if necessary, good to see his experience being used
As for Epstein - I’ve no idea if Mandleson has skeletons in that cupboard. Trump, Clinton, various rich, wealthy powerful men have been photographed with Epstein

A Trump administration may force Prime Minister Keir Starmer to choose between his country’s most powerful ally and its biggest trading partner.

“If the U.K. re-engages in these political and economic ties with the E.U., it makes it less likely that Trump will go for a free-trade agreement with the U.K,” said Stephen Moore, a senior economic adviser to the Trump campaign.

“You guys have to decide,” he said in an interview, addressing the British public. “Do you want to be more like Europe or the U.S.?”

If Britain is forced to make that choice, some argue that it should throw its lot in with Europe. Trade across the English Channel is more than two and a half times greater than that between Britain and the United States.

from The New York Times - November '24

So, what's it to be? We've left the EU in order to be 'global Britain' and make our own future free trade deals.

But this senior economic advisor to Trump is telling us such a deal is unlikely if we pursue our economic and political ties with the EU - our closest neighbour.

Enter Peter Mandelson - who opined in a recent podcast (The Times), "We have got to find a way to have our cake and eat it.”