UK appoints Labour veteran Peter Mandelson as envoy to US

LONDON - British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Dec 20 confirmed the appointment of veteran Labour politician Peter Mandelson, a former minister and European Union trade commissioner, as the next ambassador to the US.

Mr Mandelson, 71, will take up the post “early next year”, Downing Street said, just as US President-elect Donald Trump returns to the White House for a second term.

“The United States is one of our most important allies and as we move into a new chapter in our friendship, Peter will bring unrivalled experience to the role and take our partnership from strength to strength,” Mr Starmer said in a statement.

Mr Mandelson’s appointment comes amid reported unease within the British government about the prospects for London’s so-called “special relationship” with Washington during Trump’s second presidency.

The US President-elect’s threat to impose blanket tariffs on all imports is a particular concern for Mr Starmer’s new Labour government, which has vowed to boost Britain’s sluggish economic growth rates of recent years.

The British leader has been criticised heavily in 2024 by Trump confidant Elon Musk.

Mr Mandelson will replace Ms Karen Pierce, the current ambassador in Washington, who has been credited with forging strong links with the many staff and advisers in Trump’s team.

‘Absolute moron’

But in a sign of the likely fraught nature of transatlantic ties under Trump, the choice drew an immediate rebuke from a senior figure within his presidential election team.

Campaign co-manager Chris LaCivita took to social media platform X to note Mr Mandelson’s previous description of the Republican leader as “little short of a white nationalist and racist”.

“This UK government is special – replace a professional, universally respected ambo with an absolute moron – he should stay home! Sad!” he posted.

The stinging criticism follows Trump’s campaign team accusing Mr Starmer’s Labour Party of interference during the recent US election over claims party staff were helping his Democratic rival Kamala Harris.

Meanwhile, Mr Mandelson’s critique of Trump is reminiscent of disparaging remarks made by Foreign Secretary David Lammy, who previously called the incoming US president a “tyrant” and “xenophobic”.

Mr Lammy on Dec 20 praised Mr Mandelson’s “wealth of experience in trade, economic and foreign policy from his years in government and the private sector”.

“He will arrive in Washington as we deepen our enduring alliance with the incoming United States administration, particularly on growth and security,” he added.

Mr Mandelson, an EU trade commissioner from 2004 to 2008 who also co-founded the international public policy advisory firm Global Counsel, called his appointment “a great honour”.

“We face challenges in Britain but also big opportunities. It will be a privilege to work with the government to land those opportunities, both for our economy and our nation’s security, and to advance our historic alliance with the US.”

Predecessor praised

Mr Mandelson is the first political appointment for the US envoy role in decades. Britain typically picks seasoned diplomats to be ambassadors.

In his statement, Mr Starmer thanked Ms Pierce “for her invaluable service for the last four years, and in particular the wisdom and steadfast support she has given me personally since July”.

“She made history as the first woman to serve as UK ambassador to the US,” he noted, adding that she had been “an outstanding representative of our country abroad”.

Mr Mandelson’s return to a prominent government role represents a remarkable comeback for a politician who was last in the British government when Mr Gordon Brown was prime minister in the late 2000s.

A key architect in rebranding the Labour Party in the 1990s after it had spent nearly two decades out of power, he went on to become one of the country’s most divisive political figures.

A close ally of former prime minister Tony Blair, Mr Mandelson headed several British government departments between 1998 and 2001, but twice resigned after becoming embroiled in scandals. He then made a surprise 18-month return to government in 2008.

More recently, he has served as a member of Britain’s unelected House of Lords, the Upper Chamber of Parliament. AFP