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December 22, 2024 - 8:00am
In many ways, Peter Mandelson is far from the obvious choice to be US ambassador. His job over the next four years will be to get as close as possible to one of the most populist, macho and American administrations in modern history — no easy task for Britain’s most self-consciously grand and European of figures. Why not simply send for Nigel Farage instead?
Mandelson, though, has been here before. In 1999, he was dispatched by Tony Blair to Belfast and tasked with finding common ground between Ulster’s unforgiving Orangemen and their Sinn Féin opposites. Mandelson’s strategy then was not to try to play down his reputation, but to perform up to it.
He was already used to being something of a fish out of water as MP for Hartlepool, which was always a long way from the Hampstead Garden Suburb of his youth. Yet, again, he played the role expected of him, not the one others thought he needed to in order to win people over. “Beer,” he would exclaim in mock horror if he found himself in a pub. “Oh, no, you must be joking — wine for me.” He will already be preparing a similar trick in the sports bars of D.C.
In Washington, Mandelson will do what he has always done: gossip, perform and gravitate to the centre of power. In many ways, he is a made diplomat.
Starmer’s decision to appoint Mandelson is another indication of the influence of Morgan McSweeney, a close friend, ally and confidante of the former New Labour maestro. Even ensconced in the US, Mandelson will now rank as one of the most influential figures in the government, plugged into the heart of Number 10 and — in time, no doubt — closer to Donald Trump even than Starmer. It also brings Blair and his connection to Elon Musk closer to the heart of British power.
One of Trump’s most senior campaign aides, Chris LaCivita, responded to the appointment by calling Mandelson an “absolute moron”. But the new ambassador’s problem will be more structural than personal, as he is tasked with protecting Britain’s interests in Washington. At the moment, Starmer’s government believes that this amounts to preserving the existing state of affairs as much as possible: Nato, free trade and the “rules-based international order”.
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SubscribeSorry T Mc, but i just don’t buy this. Mandelson is what’s known colloquially as a “creep”. Those in positions of power within the Trump administration may pay lip service to his position, but his unctuosity will have them laughing behind his back.
The ability to wield a canapė may work in Islington among the ‘champagne socialist’ crowd, or in the corridors of the EU commission, but i credit the Americans with better judgement and the description of “moron” will be whispered between them, even as they smile to his face.
Mandy would have much to discuss with the Bidens about extracting millions from communist dictators. Trump and Musk? Not so much.
Mandelson is spiteful, envious and resentful – just like the rest of labour. The sensible thing would be to leave Karen Pierce in place; she’s competent and respected, but sensible this government isn’t.
A ridiculous fluff and puff piece.
What patronising rot. I despise this Unherd.
No mention of the recording, published in the DT, where Mandelson insults Trump as a danger to the world and a racist.
Very unlikely that Trump and his team will forget the Labour Party lizards working for the Harris campaign. Not the first time he’s been disrespected by the Brits…Let the UK twist until Farage is in Number 10
Nothing on Sue Grey being enobled. A new low for British politics.
The media won’t touch that story. They, and Unherd, are a disgrace.
Your job is to explain what is going on not collude with the Left and hide it.
Some advice to McTague. Readers are not stupid and we have memories. I will remind you of the nonsense you write in other comments.
Career diplomats should go on strike over the appointment of Peter Mandelson as Ambassador to Washington, and Donald Trump should refuse to accept his credentials because of his ties to Jeffrey Epstein.
The frightening thing is that Unherd and the Spectator are now gagged by the owner-editor combination. No criticism of Labour, or Cummings, or Gove is allowed. No criticism of Badenoch is allowed, until of course, when or if, she resists her puppet masters and tries to put distance between herself and them. No mention of what happened to the Conservative Party. How can there be when Gove and Cummings were two of the main players in its destruction?
A puff piece for Mandelson in Unherd!
Ysterday a piece bringing in Cummings from the cold.
The office walls between the (gagged) Spectator are no match for Gove’s tentacles.
No voice for the Right here or there.
At the moment, Starmer’s government believes that this amounts to preserving the existing state of affairs as much as possible: Nato, free trade and the “rules-based international order”. – You made my day! 🙂
It’s nonsense isn’t it. What are the odds Gove wrote this and got McTague to publish it.
This is a daft article. Ascribing some magical power to this has been. We should all be thankful that they didn’t decide to nominate the great Lord Ali to this post!,
McTague’s true colours are shining.
What a con Unherd is! The Mission Statement is a lie. The title Unherd is a sick travesty.
This site is Left-consensus herd politics.
Trump will either refuse to accept him or ignore him.
Political Editor. Another lie. This nonsense-piece is the Left trying to control the narrative for Labour.
It is so obvious it reveals Unherd to be just a puppet, a feeble shameless rag.
This writer is kidding himself. We all saw what happened when Trudeau tried to baby oil Trump and Mandelson is, if anything, even creepier. It won’t work.
It looks to me like Starmer has put Mandelson up as Ambassador without clearing it with the Trump team first, which I venture to suggest is very naive. Remember, Labour figures like McSweeney have been making extensive overtures in the background to build relationships with the Trump team. It is therefore inconceivable to me that LaCivita hasn’t already met various Labour people, so why did he publicly blast Mandelson like this?
Using one of his minions to insult Mandy is a very typical Trump manoeuvre to bring Starmer to heel.
I think both Starmer and Mandelson are in for a very uncomfortable time.
He responded to the radio clip when Mandelson said Trump was a racist and a danger to the world. How is Trump’s team going to respond?
The only explanation that makes sense Labour want to sabotage the UK – USA relationship. Presumably to sneak back into the EU.
Canny ? As in ridiculous and self defeating?
The media destroyed Prince Andrew for maintaining his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein after the allegations, yet here they all are ignoring Mandelson’s friendship with him. Mandelson even called Epstein while he was in jail.
Mad world!!
It is not so much that Unherd is watching from the sidelines the democratic collapse of a nation, but is party to it. Like USSR’s Pravda, but far worse because Unherd moves silently and surreptitiously, hiding in plain sight.
It is a blatant political tool.
It disgusts me.
Mandelson sounds like a relic from the Modern Age of diplomacy. Why not save Britain’s taxpayers a fortune and just sign him up for free accounts on Truth Social and X? That’s where all the post-modern diplomacy will happen under Trump and Musk anyway. The real question is: how’s his eyesight for typing, scrolling, and swiping?