The best that can be said about Lord Mandelson’s change of heart over Donald Trump is that it shows how much he wants to be the next British ambassador to Washington. He is expected to be confirmed in the role shortly. Even so, Mandelson was taking no chances in an interview he gave to Fox News, widely believed to be Trump’s favourite TV viewing.
Peter Mandelson is just the latest Labour figure to undergo a Damascene conversion on Trump
The Labour peer wants everyone (especially Trump) to know that his previous criticism of the American leader was “ill-judged and wrong”. In previous years, he has described the president as “reckless and a danger to the world”. In a 2018 interview, he called Trump a “bully”. He could not have been more wrong in doing so, apparently. Mandelson explained away his views back then as due to a time of “fraught politics in Britain” when there was “high emotion about many things” in the country.
Get Britain's best politics newsletters
Register to get The Spectator's insight and opinion straight to your inbox. You can then read two free articles each week.
Already a subscriber? Log in
Comments
Join the debate for just $5 for 3 months
Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for $5.
UNLOCK ACCESS Just $5 for 3 monthsAlready a subscriber? Log in