Mandelson to be named US ambassador 

Peter Mandelson is expected to shortly be named the next UK ambassador to Washington. The announcement – broken by the Times – comes ahead of the inauguration of Donald Trump on 20 January. A government source is quoted as telling the BBC: ‘The fact the Prime Minister has chosen to make a political appointment and sent Lord Mandelson to Washington shows just how importantly we see our relationship with the Trump administration.’ They cited the former Business Secretary’s ‘unrivalled political and policy experience’ and claimed he was ‘the ideal candidate to represent the UK’s economic and security interests.’ A formidable networker, Mandelson is regarded as a close ally of Keir Starmer’s chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney.

What to make of this imminent new appointment? It’s worth noting that even sworn Labour opponents have praised Mandelson’s political skills. Nigel Farage, a friend of President Trump, told The Spectator in October ‘even though there isn’t much they [Trump and Mandelson] would agree on, he [Mandelson] is actually really rather clever.’