Labour Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has spoken out about the recent controversy surrounding Peter Mandelson's appointment as UK ambassador to the US. In an interview with Sky News, Miliband revealed that he and former Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy had doubts about Mandelson's suitability for the role, with Miliband even warning that the appointment could "blow up." Miliband's comments come as opposition parties continue to call for Prime Minister Keir Starmer to resign over the appointment, which has been marred by allegations of impropriety and a lack of transparency. However, Miliband disagrees with the opposition, arguing that Starmer should not be held responsible for the decision made by his predecessor, and that the real issue is not the Mandelson appointment, but rather a personal dislike for the Prime Minister.
Robbins was forced out as Foreign Office permanent secretary over the Mandelson vetting revelations in the GuardianEd Miliband, the energy secretary, has said that he always thought that the appointment of Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the US would “blow up”.In an interview with Sky News this morning, Miliband claimed that David Lammy, the deputy PM who was foreign secretary at the time of the appointment, also had doubts about the appointment.You’re saying [Mandelson] should never have been appointed [as US ambassador] and I agree with you …I steered well clear of Peter Mandelson when I became Labour leader in 2010.That it could blow up, that it could go wrong.I had a conversation with David Lammy about it before the appointment, and I said I was worried about it … I think he was worried about it too.Maybe I wasn’t the person that people would necessarily ask, I think people knew my view on Peter Mandelson.You’re asking me should Keir Starmer resign over the appointment of Lord Mandelson? And I’m saying to you, no, I don’t think he should.Because I think if every time a prime minister made a mistake they resigned, we would shuttle through prime ministers like nobody’s business.I’ll be honest with you, people don’t like Keir on the door but it’s not over this Mandelson thing. They don’t like him personally.There’s been a fantastic campaign by opposition parties to undermine him … Continue reading...
