Lord Peter Mandelson UK’s ambassador to the USA

It seems that the majority are in favour, whilst recognising all his flaws. I agree - we need someone like him to deal with Trump.

Well, if anyone can’t do that - it may well be the prince of darkness

M0nica

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 absolutely agree Monica.. a clever choice and probably the only person able to get between Musk and Trump..

Jack Maidment
Politics Live Blog Editor
20 December 2024 9:14am GMT
Almost nobody in Washington DC will know who Lord Mandelson is, a US congressman has suggested.

Glenn Grothman, the Republican chairman of National Security, a sub-committee of the US House of Representatives for border and foreign affairs, estimated that 15 of the 435 members of the House would be able to name the Labour peer.

Probably par for the course, really?

USA is a huge country and unless there is a big foreign incident going on they are generally inward looking - so many State and Federal issues to contend with.

I expect more will be "briefed" as time goes on.

M0nica

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 agree, someone as deviously astute was needed.

An interesting article in the Telegraph I thought:

Matthew Lynn
20 December 2024 11:04am GMT
Matthew Lynn
He will bring huge political experience. He has the political savvy and cunning to cut deals that would be impossible for anyone else. And he will have the clout to carry real influence in Washington. There were, in fairness, some good arguments for making Lord Mandelson the new British Ambassador to the United States. The trouble is, he is also someone who had to resign from the Cabinet twice in disgrace the last time he was in government, and whose brand of Blair-ite centrism looks hopelessly old-fashioned. In reality, Mandelson will prove a catastrophic appointment.

It was always going to be a far more important appointment than usual. With Donald Trump returning to the White House, the UK needs a heavyweight as Ambassador. The UK will need to steer a middle course between the US and Europe, avoid the tariffs Trump plans to impose, while keeping Brussels on board as well. Who better than Peter Mandelson, the dark genius of the New Labour era, and a man who, by reputation at least, always made Machiavelli look like an amateur when it came to negotiating deals? Well, almost anyone as it happens. In reality, there are two big problems with this appointment.

First, Mandelson is damaged goods. In the New Labour government, he resigned as Secretary of State for Trade and Industry after details of a loan he had received emerged. He was then re-appointed as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, and had to resign all over again, as details of a passport application were made public.

Sure, Mandelson always insisted he had done nothing wrong, but, to put it politely, he was always accident-prone, and the accidents always seemed to involve money. It hardly helps that he has been running a successful consulting business, Global Counsel, which will now, quite rightly, come under intense scrutiny.

Second, he is surely well-past his sell-by date. You could make a case for Mandelson as Ambassador during the Clinton, or indeed Obama, Presidencies. He was one of the driving forces of third-way, liberal centrism. The trouble is, the Trump second term will be dominated by techno-libertarians such as Elon Musk who despise the Mandelsons of this world and everything they stand for.

They won’t be interested in what he has to say, nor will they be open to the backroom deals he will try to negotiate. He might be a big name, and he might have a good contacts book. But the harsh reality is that Mandelson is the wrong choice – and will prove another mis-judgement by a Prime Minister hopelessly out of his depth.

Country not Party though? Our British ambassadors are supposed to be diplomacy professionals, not political appointments. The British ambassador to the US is supposed to represent Britain, not the Labour Party

Mind you …. Maybe Starmer knows the negative aspects of his new Ambassador? Perhaps he's been appointed in order to wreck the relationship between the UK and the USA?
🤔

Ha! Ha! Mandelson schmoozing Trump or Trump schmoozing Mandelson, plus Musk as the puppetmaster of both of them.
You can't make this stuff up......

He is representing our country. I think any government will - and has - always appoint someone they feel will adequately represent their intentions.

It's interesting reading up on a past UK to US diplomat Darroch and the links he had politically (and the hot water he got into with Trump first time round

(and Trump actually demanded Farage in one of his many tweets way back then).....

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kim_Darroch

Yes Wyllow3I had also been reminded of the Darroch incident. I’m sure Trump would have liked to have been able to repeat his request.
If researched it is easy to see that all the US ambassadors have been appointed for their allegiance to the UK government in power at the time. Obvious really.

Just to balance the bias of this thread a little, Lord Peter Mandelson is widely recognized for his significant contributions to the British political landscape, particularly during his time as a key figure in the New Labour movement.

He played a crucial role in modernizing the Labour Party and helping to shape policies that aimed to address social issues while balancing economic growth. His ability to navigate complex political environments and advocate for progressive change has earned him respect from many quarters, even among those who may not always agree with his views - which would include me.

Additionally, his expertise in communications and public relations has influenced how political messaging is crafted in the UK and been borrowed, with differing results, by all other parties.

I have had many reservations over the the years but I do accept he is one savvy operater. Inspired choice in my view.

The Financial Times has a lengthy piece on Peter Mandelson and his association with Jeffrey Epstein.

He even stayed at Epstein’s Manhattan house whilst Epstein was in prison, before his parole…

It is not behind a paywall, so available to all.

FriedGreenTomatoes2

Mind you …. Maybe Starmer knows the negative aspects of his new Ambassador? Perhaps he's been appointed in order to wreck the relationship between the UK and the USA?
🤔

I'm going to go out on a limb here and suggest that Starmer would really rather not wreck our relationship with the USA - and certainly not just for the sake of it.

I believe he, Starmer, is stubborn - but he's not a hot-head.

The Telegraph editorial is interesting. They were though never going to approve the appointment, regardless of who was appointed...

FriedGreenTomatoes2

Jack Maidment
Politics Live Blog Editor
20 December 2024 9:14am GMT
Almost nobody in Washington DC will know who Lord Mandelson is, a US congressman has suggested.

Glenn Grothman, the Republican chairman of National Security, a sub-committee of the US House of Representatives for border and foreign affairs, estimated that 15 of the 435 members of the House would be able to name the Labour peer.

Almost nobody in France will know who the new American Ambassador is. Apart from the fact that he is Trump's son-in-law's father.
🤔

GrannyGravy13

The Financial Times has a lengthy piece on Peter Mandelson and his association with Jeffrey Epstein.

He even stayed at Epstein’s Manhattan house whilst Epstein was in prison, before his parole…

It is not behind a paywall, so available to all.

He even stayed at Epstein’s Manhattan house whilst Epstein was in prison, before his parole

Hmm, not a good look is it?

But neither is this...

"I've known Jeff for fifteen years. Terrific guy," Trump is famously quoted as saying of Epstein in an interview for New York Magazine in 2002. "He's a lot of fun to be with. It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side. No doubt about it — Jeffrey enjoys his social life."

New York Magazine, 2002

Dickens at least POTUS and Lord Mandelson will have a friend in common…

I would credit Peter Mandleson with enough political nous not to put his size whatever feet in it, a la David Lammy calling a prospective US president a Neo Nazi amongst other things, doesn't bode well for a Foreign Secretary at the fore of Anglo/American relations. . There are personal views which would be best in keeping one's own counsel when dealing with the contentious and then there's political expediency, but then one would imagine a Foreign Secretary might know that! Hence the appointment of PM which could well oil the wheels in such respects.

FriedGreenTomatoes2

Jack Maidment
Politics Live Blog Editor
20 December 2024 9:14am GMT
Almost nobody in Washington DC will know who Lord Mandelson is, a US congressman has suggested.

Glenn Grothman, the Republican chairman of National Security, a sub-committee of the US House of Representatives for border and foreign affairs, estimated that 15 of the 435 members of the House would be able to name the Labour peer.

I doubt most congressmen would be able to name any UK politicians other than PMs, just as I doubt most of ours could name any UK congressmen, or indeed European MPs. It’s not their bread and butter, is it?

True. Good point Casdon.

I wonder what Farage thinks of the appointment? Just curious. 🤣

Actually Dickens it wasn’t an editorial article upthread. It was an ‘opinion piece’ by one of the newspaper’s regulars.

Here’s another (just for balance)from the Telegraph:

Tom Harris
Mandelson is a political genius: he’s the right man to deal with Trump
He will bring charm and intelligence to the role and perhaps even progress towards an elusive transatlantic trade deal.

If you actually read the article Mandelson's dealings were strictly on the financial front. Networking with lots of other "big names" and a bank.
He was never involved in the parties and sexual scandal. Was alleged to have stayed in Epsteins place in 2009.

I don't approve of it either but let's set that record straight.

Googling Trump and Epstein on the other hand together....well, will leave that up to posters....