As US ambassador, Mandelson will attempt to offset Farage’s influence (Image: PA)
THE real reason behind Peter’s Mandelson’s appointment as Britain’s new Ambassador to the US is the belief that he is “uniquely capable of countering the Farage narrative in Washington”, sources revealed last night.
Lord Mandelson will become only the second political appointee chosen by a British Government to occupy one of its most important diplomatic seats since 1977, when PM James Callaghan picked his son-in-law, Peter Jay, for the role.
And it comes as Reform Leader is set to enjoy unprecedented access to the new presidential administration, after his ally is officially sworn in as the US’s 47th President tomorrow.
“What Lord Mandelson’s apppintment shows is that the US administration is getting access to someone who has the direct ear of the PM – someone who doesn’t need to jump through diplomatic hoops to know Sir Keir’s ‘s mind,” said one former British ambassador last night.
“This works in positive way but, of course, it also works defensively too. Only Mandelson has the skill needed to potentially offset Farage’s influential narrative in DC.”
With Reform runing neck-and-neck with the Conservative Party, Farage is expected to use his unfettered access to shape Reform policy at home, capitalising on the resurgence of right-wing thinking in the US by pointing to how Trump deals with the economy and hot topics like immigration.
The Clacton MP is already being rewarded for his loyalty to Trump, as the only British politician honoured with invitations to the three official Inauguration parties this weekend.
And he was the beau of the ball on Friday night at the glittering £150,000 Inauguration party hosted by British businessman Aaron Banks, who overcame a Visa ban to attend. Guests included president-elect , former prime minister Liz Truss a list of celebrities including Olympic swimmer Sharon Davis MBE.
Jubilant – Nigel Farage on the eve of the inauguration ball he hosted to honour Trump (Image: NIgel Farage / X )
Nigel Farage with Donald Trump (Image: GB NEWS)
Lord Mandeslon has already set the ball rolling by launching a charm offensive praising Trump
Mandelson has already paved the way to his tenure by launching a charm offensive for the new administration, intended to neutralise any nagging memories of the anti-Trump comments made by the likes of David Lammy, Wes Streeting and Angela Raynor,
In an op-ed for the right wing channel Fox News he urged America’s allies to “hear the message the American people have sent” and complimented Trump for having “straight-talking and deal-making instincts” that allies should see as an “opportunity”.
The role of British ambassador to the US is considered the Foreign Office’s most important assignment, usually requiring a Level 4 diplomat, compared with a Level 3 ambassador in Paris.
“The US embassy in DC is a Goliath, employing more than 400 diplomats and support staff – there are plenty of bodies to carry out daily diplomatic duties,” said a diplomatic source last night.
“It will fall to the deputy ambassador, – currently the very capable James Roscoe – to actually run the embassy.
‘It leaves the Ambassador free to do the most important job, which is to schmooze at parties and give anyone who matters plenty of face time. That’s the way the real narrative is spread.
“If this was the Government’s intent, they couldn’t have done better than choose Mandelson, who really is a past master at this kind of thing.”