Mandelson could still be vetoed as US ambassador or have role radically curbed

Donald Trump is still threatening to reject Peter Mandelson's appointment as the UK's ambassador to the US unless the British government accepts serious restrictions on his activities.

- DAVID MADDOX

Sir Keir Starmer is being placed under increasing pressure by the Trump administration to bow to the undiplomatic demands or face a humiliating and unprecedented veto on his pick for envoy to Washington.

A source in the Trump team has told The Independent the incoming president is still minded to reject the credentials of Lord Mandelson when they are presented. But they added: “There’s also a possibility that they approve it conditionally. There would be a very short leash.”

The Independent revealed over the weekend that Mr Trump was considering the highly unusual move of rejecting Lord Mandelson’s credentials. No British ambassador in Washington or US ambassador in London has ever been refused in such a manner.

The biggest concern remains over Lord Mandelson’s support for close ties with China, fuelled by the UK Labour government being perceived as wooing Beijing following chancellor Rachel Reeves’s recent trip.

One Mar-a-Lago source told