AI-Summary – News For Tomorrow
The business secretary defended Peter Mandelson’s US ambassadorship, despite Epstein-related concerns raised during vetting. He argued Mandelson’s “singular talents” were crucial during a precarious period in US-UK relations marked by economic threats and needed re-evaluation of the special relationship. He highlighted Mandelson’s success in navigating this difficult time. The Cabinet Office conducted an independent inquiry, presenting its findings to the Prime Minister. The emergence of previously undisclosed emails has altered the situation. Sir Kim Darroch emphasized the rigorous and lengthy vetting process for ambassadors, involving extensive background checks and interviews.
News summary provided by Gemini AI.
Peter Mandelson had “singular talents” which meant his appointment as US ambassador had been seen as “worth the risks” despite warnings in the vetting process over his links with Jeffrey Epstein, the business secretary has said.
“Global politics had been turned upside down,” he told the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg programme. “The relationship between Britain and America was in a perilous state because of the threat of tariffs, what was happening economically, trying to repurpose and rethink the special relationship.
He said Mandelson had “navigated the most difficult period in the US-UK relationship since the second world war, and we have delivered for people in Britain time after time after time.”
“The Cabinet Office did an independent inquiry into the appointment, as they do in every public appointment of this nature, and the information was presented to the prime minister,” he told Sky News.
“Now of course we have seen the emails which were not published at the time, were not public and not even known about, and that has changed the situation.”
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The former UK ambassador to the US Sir Kim Darroch said that the vetting procedure for ambassadors takes “weeks and weeks” and includes interviews with other sources.
“They ask people about you and they look into your background through sources you may not have nominated as people to act as your referees.
