Donald Trump’s administration has approved former minister Peter Mandelson to become the UK’s ambassador to Washington, sources say.
It comes after Trump’s senior campaign advisor Chris LaCivita branded the former Minister a “moron” on social media.
It was reported that US senators passed on a file to the FBI to investigate the Labour peer’s links to China, cited as the main reason that President Trump was said to be considering declining his nomination.
However, two inside sources told Politico that the Trump regime granted Mandelson his agrément, a diplomatic term for the formal agreement to accept his appointment.
Senior adviser for the Trump campaign Chris LaCivita
Getty
Starmer’s choice of Mandelson as ambassador has been disputed in Trump’s inner circle and the wider Republican party, in part because of his past business links to China.
One senior US source told The Independent that the report Mandelson has been accepted as “hot air” adding: “Why would the senators have passed the dossier to the FBI Monday if he got his agreement last week?”
Downing Street has defended Mandelson over the reports about the dossier, with the Prime Minister’s spokesman saying he has declared all his interests as part of the clearance process.
A Downing Street spokesman said: “On that specific report, the Foreign Office don’t recognise the reports of a dossier. More broadly, there’s obviously an established regime in place for the management of interests held by ambassadors or high commissioners.”
LATEST US NEWS
Lord Peter Mandelson
PA
The spokesman continued: “This ensures that steps are taken to avoid or mitigate any actual, potential or perceived conflicts of interest, and all candidates are subject to background checks and security clearance.
“Whilst we do not usually comment on individuals, Lord Mandelson has made all relevant declarations as part of this process. And this ensures that steps are taken to avoid or mitigate any potential or perceived conflicts of interest.”
More to follow…