2 w. ago MI6 boss hotly tipped to take over from disgraced Peter Mandelson as US Ambassador doesn't want the job

The outgoing head of MI6 has ruled himself out for the role of Britain's next ambassador to America, the Mail can reveal.

Politics

2 w. ago Trump said he ate ‘whatever the hell they served us’ at Windsor banquet during UK state visit: Latest

Donald Trump’s visit to the UK finished without controversy despite a number of issues - including the recent sacking of US ambassador Lord Peter Mandelson - threatening to sour proceedings

Politics

3 w. ago Keir Starmer made Peter Mandelson ambassador BEFORE he was vetted by security services

Keir Starmer appointed Peter Mandelson as US ambassador without waiting for him to be vetted by the security services, MPs were told yesterday.

Politics

3 w. ago Donald Trump’s UK state visit arrives at awkward moment after Mandelson exit

Sacking of Peter Mandelson over Epstein ties threatens to overshadow fanfare of US president’s two-day tripFor Donald Trump, the priority was to avoid any distractions. But as he arrives for his second state visit to the UK – an unprecedented honour for a US president – the crisis engulfing Keir Starmer’s government threatens to overshadow the proceedings.The circumstances of that crisis are especially awkward. Peter Mandelson was unceremoniously sacked as the UK’s ambassador to Washington on Thursday after emails were published in which he had urged his friend Jeffrey Epstein to fight for early release from prison in 2008. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Peter Mandelson seen as ‘worth the risk’ as US ambassador, minister says

Peter Kyle says ‘singular talents’ of Mandelson were balanced against warnings over links with Jeffrey EpsteinPeter Mandelson had “singular talents” that meant his appointment as US ambassador had been seen as “worth the risks” despite warnings in the vetting process over his links with Jeffrey Epstein, the business secretary has said.The dismissal of Mandelson as ambassador following new revelations about his close contact with Epstein after the financier was convicted of child sex offences has caused fury in the Labour party about the slowness of No 10’s response, as well as a major headache before the US president Donald Trump’s arrival this week for a state visit. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Virginia Giuffre's family say Mandelson should never have been US ambassador over Epstein ties

Keir Starmer is under pressure over the decision to appoint Peter Mandelson as US ambassador as the family of one of Jeffrey Epstein's victims hit out at the move

Politics

3 w. ago Starmer knew Peter Mandelson had a 'strong relationship' with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein but risked making him US ambassador anyway because of his 'talents', admits Cabinet minister

Peter Kyle said that Lord Mandelson's potential ability to handle President Trump meant it was 'worth the risk' of appointing him.

Politics

3 w. ago HARRIET HARMAN: 'I never thought it was a good idea to appoint Peter Mandelson as our Ambassador'

Former Labour deputy leader and co-host of the Election Dysfunction podcast Harriet Harman writes for The Mirror after Keir Starmer was forced to sack Peter Mandelson as the UK's envoy to Washington

Politics

3 w. ago Starmer ‘defended Mandelson after No 10 had received Epstein emails’

PM understood not to have seen messages from former ambassador to sex offender when speaking in CommonsKeir Starmer defended Peter Mandelson in the House of Commons two days after details of the damning emails between the former ambassador to the US and Jeffrey Epstein were passed to Downing Street, according to reports.The prime minister sacked Mandelson on Thursday after emails were published revealing that he had told Epstein “your friends stay with you and love you” while the disgraced financier was facing jail for sex offences. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago DAILY MAIL COMMENT: Starmer pledged to 'end the chaos'. So how's that going?

He lost his deputy prime minister Angela Rayner and his ambassador to the US Peter Mandelson to separate scandals within a week, and his own MPs are openly questioning his judgment.

Events

3 w. ago Keir Starmer warned ‘time running out’ to repair faltering leadership

After disastrous week, some MPs predict challenge against PM likely if local and Welsh elections go badly next MayKeir Starmer has been warned that time is running out to repair his faltering leadership, with Labour MPs beginning to ask whether he could be challenged as prime minister.After a disastrous week in which Angela Rayner resigned and Peter Mandelson was sacked as ambassador to Washington, a number of MPs said a challenge was likely if local and Welsh elections went badly next May. Some said the one thing now protecting Starmer was the lack of an agreed replacement. Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago Jeffrey Epstein’s birthday book is a horrifying document | Moira Donegan

Conspiracy theorists wonder about what Epstein and his powerful friends may have done to cover up his crimes. But they barely were covered upJeffrey Epstein had a lot of friends. When his girlfriend-cum-assistant and convicted fellow sex trafficker, Ghislane Maxwell, set out to compile letters, drawings and well wishes from friends in celebration of the pedophile financier’s 50th birthday in 2003, the resulting scrapbook was 238 pages long. The book, titled The First 50 Years, included letters from prominent well-wishers such as former president Bill Clinton and the Bear Stearns executives James Cayne and Alan Greenberg, as well as from the late Jean-Luc Brunel, a French modeling scout and Epstein’s fellow pedophilic rapist.The lawyer and longtime Epstein friend Alan Dershowitz contributed a mock cover of the magazine Vanity Fair, which was working on a profile of Epstein at the time; Peter Mandelson, until this week the UK ambassador to the United States, wrote that Epstein was “my...

Culture

3 w. ago Peter Mandelson was picked as UK's Trump whisperer as White House is 'uncoventional'

Sacked US Ambassador Peter Mandelson was selected because of the 'unconventional' White House, Labour minister Douglas Alexander said

Politics

3 w. ago Peter Mandelson: ambassador whose panache made him a big hitter in DC

Sacked diplomat’s career was described as durable to an audience of foreign policy top brass just five days agoOn Saturday, as the late summer afternoon sun shone across the lawns of Ditchley Park, the cream of the British foreign policy establishment gathered in a giant marquee to hear the ambassador to Washington give the 61st annual Ditchley lecture on how Donald Trump’s re-election revealed something profound about an elite that had lost touch with modern fed-up electorates.After a glowing introduction from Jonathan Hill, Peter Mandelson picked up on the Conservative peer’s description of his career as durable, laughing and saying “that captured it to a T”. His career had indeed been durable, but five days later it turned out not to be indestructible. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Spotlight falls on Starmer’s political judgment after Mandelson sacking

Decision to end support for US ambassador over Jeffrey Epstein links comes just before Donald Trump state visit Keir Starmer is facing serious questions about his political judgment after he was forced to sack his US ambassador, Peter Mandelson, over his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein.In the second damaging departure for the government in a week, the prime minister withdrew support for Lord Mandelson over emails to Epstein from 2008 suggesting his sentence for soliciting a child for prostitution should be challenged. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago The Guardian view on Peter Mandelson in Washington: a parable of short

Any association with Jeffrey Epstein was obviously toxic and it reflects poorly on Keir Starmer’s judgment that he didn’t anticipate the riskAs UK ambassador to Washington, Peter Mandelson was obviously a risky appointment. There was never any doubt that the former cabinet minister, European commissioner and international business lobbyist would be a skilled operator. The danger came from another of his reliable traits – attracting attention for the wrong reasons.Sure enough, little over six months into the role, Lord Mandelson’s position became untenable. Sir Keir Starmer had stood by him when links to Jeffrey Epstein first resurfaced – extraordinary given the billionaire financier’s status as a convicted paedophile. The position changed with the publication of evidence showing that Lord Mandelson reaffirmed the friendship even after Epstein’s conviction, expressing solidarity and urging him to seek early release.Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this ar...

Politics

3 w. ago Sacked Mandelson: Being ambassador to US was ‘privilege of my life’

The peer said he deeply regretted the circumstances of his departure from the British embassy in Washington.

Politics

3 w. ago Concerns Mandelson did not pass MI6 vetting for US ambassador role – but Starmer appointed him anyway

Keir Starmer is facing serious questions after claims he ignored warnings from the security service to appoint Peter Mandelson as US ambassador

Politics

3 w. ago The humiliating journey home: Mandelson’s fall from grace – and what awaits him in UK

Peter Mandelson’s career has been defined by comebacks, but his fall from grace over Epstein may mark the end of the road for the Labour grandee

Politics

3 w. ago John Swinney 'not surprised' over Lord Peter Mandelson sacking as he makes call on Donald Trump whisky deal

John Swinney does not think Peter Mandelson being sacked as US ambassador will scupper a potential whisky deal with Donald Trump.

Politics