Pressure is mounting on Sir Keir Starmer's chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, after it emerged that he was sent a memo warning against the appointment of Peter Mandelson as UK ambassador to the US. The memo, from Labour peer Lord Maurice Glasman, was sent while the peer was in Washington DC for Donald Trump's inauguration.
Lord Glasman, founder of the Blue Labour group, wrote: 'Withdraw Peter Mandelson. He is the wrong man at the wrong time in the wrong place.' He suggested that Reform UK leader Nigel Farage would be a better choice, stating: 'The obvious person is Farage if you can find it in yourselves to be so bold.'
Mandelson was eventually sacked in September last year as details emerged of his ongoing relationship with convicted paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein. The incoming Trump administration had opposed Mandelson's appointment and was considering rejecting his credentials, according to The Independent.
Lord Glasman also praised the incumbent ambassador, Dame Karen Pierce, saying she was doing 'a fine holding job' and had 'not p---ed them off, which is a great achievement in itself'. Sources from the Trump team had indicated they preferred Dame Karen to stay on.
The memo has further fuelled questions among Labour parliamentarians about the judgement of both Mr McSweeney and the prime minister. Sir Keir admitted last week that he and his team knew Mandelson had maintained his relationship with Epstein after the financier was imprisoned.
