Downing Street remains cautiously optimistic about Lord Mandelson getting the nod as Britain’s new ambassador to Washington, despite reports that Donald Trump’s incoming administration has raised questions about his “political baggage”.
Mandelson, a former Labor government minister and European Trade Commissioner, is awaiting final signing for the prestigious position. Dame Karen Pierce, the current UK Ambassador, will continue to represent the government at President Trump’s inauguration while the US team makes its decision.
One of the GOP’s leading figures abroad, Greg Swenson, acknowledged concerns about Mandelson’s affiliations and past disagreements with the GOP. He pointed to the “political rift” existing between the Labor Party in the United Kingdom and the rising Republicans in the United States, but he expects the two sides to work together once the appointment is confirmed.
Some within Trump’s inner circle have questioned Downing Street’s selection of Mandelson, with critics pointing to his ties to China. Nigel Farage, leader of the UK Reform Party, suggested that Keir Starmer was “getting off to the worst possible start” with the Trump administration by exploiting a senior New Labor figure.
However, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Darren Jones and others rallied in No. 10 behind Mandelson, praising him as a “universally recognized elder statesman”. The peer has sought to temper his past criticism of President Trump — once calling him “reckless” — by recently highlighting the president’s “instincts for straight talk and deal-making” in a Fox News article.
Political insiders point out that the final decision on any ambassadorial appointment rests with the White House. However, there is confidence in Westminster that London and Washington share a strategic and economic imperative to maintain a strong relationship, meaning Mandelson’s extensive experience in global trade could be valuable in navigating the next phase of UK-US relations.