Peter Mandelson sacked
Prime Minister sacks the UK Ambassador to the USA
Image: British Embassy - Washington DC.
In 1796, the UK appointed its first Ambassador to the United States of America. His name was Sir Robert Liston (1742 - 1836).
From 10 February 2025 until 11 September 2025, the Ambassador was Labour politician Peter Mandelson. - (Baron Mandelson, of Foy in the County of Herefordshire and of Hartlepool in the County of Durham).
Mandelson was first elected to Parliament in 1992. He held various notable appointments including Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1999 - 2001), and European Commissioner for Trade (2004 - 2008). His life peerage dates from 2008.
Several scandals mark his political career and led to him resigning twice from Cabinet.
In 1996, he bought a home in Notting Hill partly with an interest-free loan of £373,000 from a Cabinet colleague (Geoffrey Robinson) whose business dealings were subject to an inquiry by Mandelson's department. Mandelson contended that he had deliberately not taken part in any decisions relating to Robinson but he had not declared the loan in the Register of Members' Interests and resigned in December 1998 when it became clear to Prime Minister Blair that nothing else would clear the air.
In January 2001, Mandelson resigned from the Government for a second time, following accusations of using his position to influence a passport application by Srichand Parmanand Hinduja (28 November 1935 – 17 May 2023), an Indian-born British billionaire businessman.
In September 2025, material came to light showing the extent of Mandelson’s ties to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
In Parliament, at Prime Minister’s Questions, Starmer expressed confidence in Mandelson but, the following day, Starmer ordered the Foreign Secretary to remove Mandelson from his post in Washington - (see Hansard 11 September 2025).
The government’s statement on 11 September said -
‘In light of additional information in emails written by Peter Mandelson, the Prime Minister has asked the Foreign Secretary to withdraw him as ambassador to the United States. The emails show that the depth and extent of Lord Mandelson’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein is materially different from that known at the time of his appointment. In particular, Lord Mandelson’s suggestion that Jeffrey Epstein’s first conviction was wrongful and should be challenged is new information. In the light of that and mindful, as we all are, of the victims of Epstein’s appalling crimes, Lord Mandelson has been withdrawn as ambassador with immediate effect.’
It is said by government that Ambassadorial and High Commissioner appointments are made after detailed vetting of candidates. However, it is hard to believe that material had actually come to light that could not have been discovered as part of what purports to be a rigorous vetting procedure.
Some light is thrown on the appointments process by this House of Commons library publication - How are diplomats appointed? Ambassadors and high commissioners are official representatives of the UK to other states. They are appointed by the King under the royal prerogative. This means such appointments (unlike appointments to some other senior roles) are not made according to rules set out in legislation, and there is no formal role for Parliament.
Mandelson’s political career shows undoubted ability especially as a negotiator but appointing him as Ambassador has the clear look of an ill-judged appointment on the part of Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
As recently as 3 September, Mandelson delivered the 61st Ditchley Lecture. The theme was Britain and America in the Age of Trump – and Beyond.
The full, as delivered transcript of the Lecture can be found here: Britain and America in the Age of Trump – and Beyond
Links
List of UK Ambassadors to the USA
The Guardian - Spotlight falls in Starmer’s political judgement after Mandelson sacking
BBC News - Why did Starmer take the risk of appointing Peter Mandelson?
BBC News - Rise and fall of Labour’s political fixer
The Guardian - Peter Mandelson called Jeffrey Epstein my ‘best pal’ in 50th birthday letter.
The Guardian 13 September 2025 - A banya with a billionaire, undeclared loans and ‘pure poison’: the many scandals of Peter Mandelson.
Sky News - Mandelson appointment worth the risk - Appointing Lord Mandelson as the UK's ambassador to the US was "worth the risk", a minister told Sky News. Peter Kyle said the government put the Labour peer forward for the Washington role, despite knowing he had a "strong relationship" with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
BBC News - I would never have appointed Mandelson had I known …..
16 September 2025 - House of Commons debate - Ambassador to the United States - The Prime Minister did not attend the debate.