Christian Turner, the United Kingdom's newly appointed ambassador to the United States, has sparked controversy by stating that Israel, rather than Britain, enjoys a 'special relationship' with the White House. The remarks were made during a private meeting with a group of students in February, shortly after he assumed the role.
Turner's Candid Remarks
During the discussion, Turner described Prime Minister Keir Starmer as having been 'on the ropes' following the Peter Mandelson scandal. He suggested that Starmer's future as prime minister could hinge on the outcome of the May local elections, stating that if Labour performs poorly, the party might remove him. 'The moment I would look to is the May elections,' Turner said. 'If Labour does very badly, I suspect the party will be able to go over that threshold and remove him.'
Special Relationship Questioned
Turner also questioned the notion of a 'special relationship' between the UK and the US, calling it 'quite nostalgic' and 'backwards-looking.' He added, 'I think there is probably one country that has a special relationship with the United States – and that is probably Israel.' This statement has drawn attention given the ongoing state visit by King Charles to the US.
Reactions from Downing Street
A Foreign Office spokesperson dismissed the remarks as 'private, informal comments made to a group of UK sixth-form students' and insisted they do not reflect government policy. No 10 declined to comment. Turner's appointment was seen as a safe choice after the controversial tenure of Peter Mandelson, who was sacked for misleading Starmer over his ties to Jeffrey Epstein.
Background on Turner
Turner, a career diplomat, previously served as ambassador to the UN and political director at the Foreign Office. He was chosen over other candidates, including Varun Chandra and Nigel Casey, to replace Mandelson. His comments have been described as unusually candid for a diplomat.
