Peter Mandelson: How the Prince of Darkness became his excellency

"I’m a soldier, not someone who gives up," Peter Mandelson shouted during the Hartlepool election results in 2001.

The former Labour MP had recently been re-elected to parliament just five months after stepping down from Tony Blair's administration, having faced allegations of assisting an Indian billionaire in obtaining a British passport.

An official investigation eventually found him not to be involved, but this was the second time he had to step down.

Mandelson had earlier stepped down from his position as trade secretary after it became known that he had taken a large loan from another cabinet minister to purchase a home.

Peter Mandelson has been a prominent figure in the news for many years.

Fast forward 25 years, and Lord Mandelson, as he is now known, is about to move into the luxurious and newly renovated British embassy in Washington DC. At official events, he will be referred to as "his excellency," in line with tradition.

Hartlepool, located in the economically transformed North-East of England, is quite a distance away, and it's yet another comeback for a Labour politician who always appears to be striving for their next opportunity.

He recently put a lot of effort into his campaign for the position of Chancellor at Oxford University, but last month, the former Conservative leader Lord Hague secured the role ahead of him.

The ambassador in Washington will provide significant reassurance.

In the middle of the 1980s, when Labour was struggling, Mandelson took on the role of campaign director for the party. He initiated an internal effort to shift the party away from its leftist tendencies under Neil Kinnock's leadership.

By 1992, he was elected as a Member of Parliament and took on a covert role, using the alias "Bobby," to assist Tony Blair in obtaining the Labour leadership position.

He was already known for being a master manipulator, much like the fictional character Svengali.

Behind the scenes, the fixer and master manipulator, who took pleasure in being called the "Prince of Darkness," was busy networking and plotting.

Central to New Labour, he was celebrated by his supporters while being seen as a foe by numerous leftists.

He served as the trade secretary during Tony Blair’s initial term in office and later held the position of business secretary under Gordon Brown.

During that time, he was appointed to the House of Lords and served for four years as the Trade Commissioner for the European Union.

The political expertise of the judges at Number 10 will be crucial as the world prepares for the possibility of another Trump presidency and the looming risk of international tariffs on goods entering the United States.

As one of the staunchest supporters of Europe in the New Labour government, Lord Mandelson will play a key role in shaping a British foreign policy aimed at strengthening relationships with the EU, all while ensuring that President Trump remains supportive.

Given the potential for policy disagreements involving China, Ukraine, and the future of NATO, this posting is unlikely to be uneventful.

As the UK's representative in Washington DC, Lord Mandelson will be in a prime position to engage with the Trump administration.

He will need to charm and persuade the new administration during what could be a very fragile period for US-UK relations.

Lord Mandelson is straightforward about his web of relationships, and Downing Street views this as a positive aspect.

Since stepping away from active politics, he has earned a significant amount of money through the advisory company he co-founded, Global Counsel.

However, his relationships and friendships with the ultra-wealthy have also faced examination.

In 2008, Lord Mandelson's ties to the Russian billionaire Oleg Deripaska brought him back into the headlines.

In 2023, his past friendship with the infamous financier Jeffrey Epstein made news.

A representative for the Labour peer stated, "Lord Mandelson deeply wishes he had never met Epstein."

"This association has been known to the public for quite a while. He did not have any professional or business ties to Epstein in any capacity."

Lord Mandelson isn't exactly an uncontroversial choice for a significant diplomatic position.

Several key individuals from the Blair era have re-emerged in influential roles following Labour's victory in the general election. Prominently, Jonathan Powell, who previously served as Mr. Blair's chief of staff, has taken on the position of the UK's national security adviser.

By choosing Lord Mandelson, Sir Keir Starmer has selected a political strategist rather than a diplomat or a seasoned bureaucrat. As a result, Donald Trump will engage with someone who is deeply embedded in the inner circle of the Labour Party's leadership.

Lord Mandelson will serve as a link between a president and a prime minister who appear to have vastly different personalities and political views.

Karen Pierce, the departing UK ambassador, has gained a reputation in Washington as the "Trump whisperer" due to her strong connections with the team of the new president.

After years of being the subject of quiet speculation in Westminster, Lord Mandelson is now set to use his political skills in the realm of Donald Trump.