Peter Mandelson’s appointment as our next US ambassador could be vetoed by Donald Trump, it was claimed last night.
A member of the Trump team was quoted by The Independent as saying it was ‘still not certain’ that Lord Mandelson’s credentials would be accepted, blaming strains with Sir Keir Starmer’s Government and concerns about Lord Mandelson’s perceived links to China.
The Trump source said that while Labour had told the Trump transition team it was ‘a huge compliment’ that Sir Keir wanted to send such a senior Labour figure, they were ‘not buying that’.
As The Mail revealed last week, Lord Mandelson has not been invited to tomorrow’s Presidential Inauguration.
For an ambassadorial nominee to formally take up their post in Washington, the president has to accept the ‘letters of credence’.
The news comes as separate sources claimed the outgoing British ambassador had objected to the appointment of Lord Mandelson as her successor, and was ‘making life difficult for Peter as he tries to take up his post’.
Lord Mandelson has not been invited to tomorrow’s Presidential Inauguration
For an ambassadorial nominee to formally take up their post in Washington, the president has to accept the ‘letters of credence’
It comes as the inauguration ceremony has been moved indoors due to cold weather
A source said Dame Karen Pierce wanted to cover the return of Trump, and hoped that he would block the appointment.
But a British Embassy spokesman said the claims about Dame Karen were ‘categorically untrue’.
An embassy source added that while it was possible for Mr Trump not to accept Lord Mandelson’s credentials, it was ‘highly unlikely’.
