(Reuters) -British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is poised to announce former Labour Party government minister Peter Mandelson as Britain’s new ambassador to the United States, The Times reported on Thursday.
Starmer believes that Mandelson has the trade expertise and networking abilities to bolster the country’s interests during a delicate period for relations with the U.S., the report added.
Dame Karen Pierce, the current ambassador, will remain in the post until Trump is inaugurated on Jan. 20, according to The Times.
Downing Street did not immediately respond to a Reuters’ request for comment.
Peter Mandelson was the Labour lawmaker for Hartlepool from 1992 to 2004 and held a number of cabinet positions under Prime Ministers Tony Blair and Gordon Brown.
On Wednesday, Starmer used a call with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump to restate his view that allies must stand together in support of Ukraine and vowed to strengthen their nations’ close and historic relationship.
(Reporting by Urvi Dugar; Editing by Leslie Adler and Sandra Maler)
