Lord Mandelson is expected to be appointed Britain’s ambassador to the US

Lord Peter Mandelson is expected to be named as Britain’s next ambassador to the US.

The Labor grandee, who served in a number of ministerial roles under Tony Blair and Gordon Brown before becoming a life peer in the Lords, was considered one of the frontrunners for the post.

He succeeds Dame Karen Pierce, whose term in Washington DC is due to end in early 2025.

Lord Mandelson, an architect of New Labour, was seen as a key adviser to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer for the 2024 election.

He served as the Labor MP for Hartlepool from 1992 to 2004, during which time he served as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and Business Secretary.

His appointment comes before the inauguration of newly elected President Donald Trump in January.

A government source said: “The fact that the Prime Minister has decided to make a political appointment and sent Lord Mandelson to Washington shows how important we value our relationship with the Trump administration.

“We are sending to the Prime Minister someone with unrivaled political and policy experience, particularly on the important issue of trade. He is the ideal candidate to represent Britain’s economic and security interests in the United States.”

Both the White House and the Trump campaign were informed in advance of the appointment.

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