Britain sends 'Prince of Darkness' Mandelson as envoy to charm Trump

21/12/2024 6:31

Britain named Labour Party grandee Peter Mandelson as its ambassador to the United States on Friday, seeking to woo Donald Trump's administration, void a trade war and ensure the countries remain aligned over Ukraine.



A former European commissioner for trade and a key figure in Labour's success under former leaders Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, the 71-year-old is the first political appointee to the role in almost half a century.



His past reputation as a charming but ruthless behind-the-scenes operator saw him dubbed "Prince of Darkness" in UK media.



The selection is one of Keir Starmer's most significant foreign policy moves since becoming prime minister in July, given the potential reverberations from Trump's return to power.