Donald Trump’s administration has reportedly given the go-ahead for Peter Mandelson to take up the role of UK ambassador to the US. The news follows a “warm” phone call between Sir Keir Starmer and Mr Trump.
The Prime Minister had been under pressure to reevaluate his choice after it was claimed the US president was set to reject Lord Mandelson due to his “credentials” and connections with China, with Mr Trump’s team considering restrictions on his activities in America.
A group of Republican senators handed the FBI a dossier prepared by the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, reportedly detailing Lord Mandelson’s “close Chinese connections”, The Nightly previously reported.
However, the Prime Minister’s spokesman said “the Foreign Office don’t recognise the reports of a dossier”, adding Lord Mandelson has declared all his interests as part of the clearance process.
However, any remaining apprehensions were reportedly ironed out after the two leaders engaged in a personal phone call on Sunday. Despite the pair not directly discussing Lord Mandelson, the talk helped to smooth tensions relating to his appointment, The i Paper reports.
“The messages coming from the White House are that they are happy to proceed with Peter’s appointment,” a UK Government source told the publication. Lord Mandelson is expected to begin in early February – and Sir Keir and Mr Trump’s first meeting in the US since they took their posts may come “soon”, as reportedly agreed by the pair.
A Downing Street spokesman didn’t confirm the i report, telling the paper the process of appointing the ambassador was “still ongoing”.
The Daily Express has contacted Downing Street and the FCDO for comment. A FCDO spokesperson told the Express: “Lord Mandelson is HMA-designate and the usual process is ongoing.”
The phone conversation lasted for 45 minutes, marking their first call since the president’s inauguration on January 20. They discussed trade, the economy and security in the Middle East, according to Downing Street’s readout of the call.
Lord Mandelson had been granted the first stage of approval as UK ambassador across the pond by former US president Joe Biden, yet this could have been blocked by Mr Trump during the next stage of the process.
The next step now is for the Labour peer to visit the US with “letters of credence” from the King where he will then formally present the royal credentials on arrivals. First, he will do this to the State Department and then to the president.
