Peter Mandelson has been appointed as the next British ambassador to the USA.
The prime minister confirmed the choice of Lord Mandelson on Friday. The Labour Party grandee will take up the position early next year.
Keir Starmer said: “I am delighted to appoint Lord Mandelson to be the next British ambassador to the United States of America. The United States is one of our most important allies and as we move into a new chapter in our friendship, Peter will bring unrivalled experience to the role and take our partnership from strength to strength.”
Mandelson served in various government roles under New Labour including secretary of state in Gordon Brown’s government from 2009-2010 and business secretary 2008-2010. He was also European commissioner of trade from 2004-2008.
In Blair’s government, Mandelson was first a minister without portfolio from 1997-1998 and then Northern Ireland secretary from 1999-2001.
Mandelson became a Labour peer in 2008. In 2010, Mandelson co-founded of Global Counsel, a global public policy advisory firm.
Foreign secretary David Lammy said: “It is wonderful to welcome Peter back to the team. He offers a wealth of experience in trade, economic and foreign policy from his years in government and the private sector.
“He will arrive in Washington DC as we deepen our enduring alliance with the incoming United States administration, particularly on growth and security.”
Mandelson, who succeeds Karen Pierce in the role, said: “It is a great honour to serve the country in this way. We face challenges in Britain but also big opportunities and it will be a privilege to work with the government to land those opportunities, both for our economy and our nation’s security, and to advance our historic alliance with the United States.”
Starmer thanked Dame Pierce, who has served in the role since 2020, for her “invaluable service for the last four years, and in particular the wisdom and steadfast support she has given me personally since July”.
“She made history as the first woman to serve as U.K. Ambassador to the U.S. and she has been an outstanding representative of our country abroad,” he added. “I wish her all the very best in future.”