Labour stalwart Lord Peter Mandelson is anticipated to be appointed as the next 海角视频 ambassador to the US. Having served in the cabinets of Sir Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, Lord Mandelson is on track to become the 海角视频's leading diplomat in Washington, coinciding with President-elect Donald Trump's return to office.
Dame Karen Pierce, the current ambassador, is expected to conclude her tenure in early 2025, with Lord Mandelson being the favoured successor, as reported by .
A source indicated that this move underscores the importance the 海角视频 places on "our relationship with the Trump administration" and characterised Lord Mandelson as someone with "unrivalled" political experience.
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The source stated: "The fact the Prime Minister has chosen to make a political appointment and send Lord Mandelson to Washington 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. He’s the ideal candidate to represent the 海角视频’s economic and security interests in the USA."
The BBC anticipates Lord Mandelson's confirmation on Friday. This development comes as Mr Trump prepares for his second inauguration, raising questions about what a second Trump presidency could mean for the 海角视频.
Mr Trump has pledged to introduce wide-ranging tariffs on the first day of his new administration, which starts on January 20, with experts predicting damaging consequences for Britain’s goods trade with the US. On Thursday, Sir Keir said that the 海角视频 would "have to make sure that we avoid tariffs" as he faced questions on his approach to the incoming US president.
He told the Commons Liaison Committee he was "alive to the danger of tariffs" but would not "speculate as to what the incoming president might do". He said: "I am not a fan of tariffs and, therefore, we have to make sure that we avoid tariffs."
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Former British ambassador to the US Lord Kim Darroch told BBC’s Newsnight that he thought it was a "good appointment".
Speaking to the programme he said: "I’ve been saying for a long time ever since the election outcome that I thought Peter Mandelson was the right man for the job and I’m glad that it’s been announced."
Lord Darroch was in post during Mr Trump’s first presidency but quit his stateside role in 2019 after messages he wrote criticising the administration were leaked to the press. The Times reported Lord Mandelson was chosen ahead of former foreign secretary David Miliband, ex-development secretary Baroness Amos and Baroness Ashton of Upholland, who served as European trade commissioner.
In November, Lord Mandelson, the former MP for Hartlepool, told the BBC that he would be "very interested" in giving advice on trade to whoever got the job.
In an interview on the BBC’s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme, Lord Mandelson expressed his preference for a "new relationship rather than a special one" with the US. He also clarified: "Can I just make the point if you don’t mind: nobody has spoken to me about this job."
He added, "I read about it in the papers but nobody has actually spoken to me about it, so let’s put it to one side."
When asked about his interest in the Washington role, the former government minister responded: "I would be very interested indeed in giving advice about trade to whoever is appointed."
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Lord Mandelson, one of the architects of New Labour and instrumental in restoring the party to power in the 1990s, served as trade secretary and Northern Ireland secretary under Sir Tony.
He resigned as an MP in 2004 to become a European Commissioner, returning to government in 2008 when Mr Brown awarded him a peerage and appointed him business secretary. More recently, Lord Mandelson ran for the position of chancellor at Oxford University but was defeated by former Conservative leader Lord William Hague.
PA Media provided the report