Mandelson seen as 'worth the risk' as US ambassador, minister says

Peter Mandelson had "singular talents" that 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.

- Jessica Elgot

It came as the family of Epstein victim Virginia Giuffre said Mandelson should never have been made ambassador.

Mandelson's dismissal as ambassador following new revelations about his close contact with Epstein after the financier was convicted of child sex offences has caused fury in the Labour party about the slowness of No 10's response, as well as a major headache before Donald Trump's arrival this week for a state visit.

Peter Kyle denied Downing Street had known of the full exchange between Mandelson and Epstein that led to his sacking this week, but said he had transformed the UK-US relationship, which was why he had been given the vital role.

"Global politics had been turned upside down," he told the BBC's Sunday with 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.

"Britain needed somebody with outstanding, singular talents, experience which was very hard to come by. And yes, a lot was known about Peter Mandelson's relationship with Epstein. He had apologised for it. And these two things were weighed up."