Mandelson should never have been ambassador, Yvette Cooper says after damning messages revealed

Mandelson should never have been ambassador, Yvette Cooper says after damning messages revealed Foreign secretary described messages disclosed in Mandelson files as an ‘unedifying process’ - Bookmark - CommentsGo to comments The foreign secretary has said Peter Mandelson should “never have been appointed” as Britain’s ambassador to the US, after damning messages between ministers and the disgraced peer were published. Yvette Cooper declined to say whether Sir Keir Starmer was a strong and effective leader, as she described the messages disclosed in the latest tranche of the Mandelson files as an “unedifying process”. The minister, who made the comments during her visit to China, also declined to say whether she recognised Mandelson’s criticism of Sir Keir Starmer, after messages revealed he said the prime minister “lacks verve”. Asked about the disgraced peer’s description of Sir Keir’s approach as “advance, buckle, advance, buckle”, the foreign secretary told reporters in Beijing: “What I would say is that Peter Mandelson should never have been appointed as ambassador to the United States and, look, of course there’s been a lot of transparency now about messages being released. “That’s always an unedifying process but right to be transparent.” Ms Cooper also evaded a question on whether she could describe the prime minister as a strong and effective leader. She replied: “I’m in China pursuing issues around international security which follows on from the prime minister’s visit here to China with President Xi earlier this year.“ The government is facing humiliation after it released a second tranche of more than 1,000 pages of documents related to Mandelson’s ill-chosen appointment has US ambassador. Sir Keir sacked Mandelson in September 2025 after growing pressure to remove him from office following leaked emails which showed the peer sent supportive messages even as Jeffrey Epstein faced jail for sex offences. MPs voted earlier this year to force the disclosure of documents relating to his time as ambassador. Ms Cooper added: “We mustn’t forget two things: first is that in the end this whole thing started about Epstein’s abuse of young women and girls, and sometimes the conversation gets pulled away from that, and, secondly, I think the whole government is getting on with the most important issues that affect our country and that’s exactly why I’m here in China having these important discussions about international security.” The documents - which included thousands of previously private messages between figures at the heart of government and Mandelson - show him criticising the government and offering advice. The release laid bare Mandelson’s damning opinion of the government, as he warned that Sir Keir’s Downing Street operation is “beleaguered and bereft”. This is a breaking story – more follows... Join our commenting forum Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies Comments