Sir Keir Starmer has made what our chief political correspondent Jon Craig has described as his “most controversial appointment yet”. It comes hours after the prime minister was questioned by MPs on parliament’s Liaison Committee.
Thursday 19 December 2024 20:08, UK
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By becoming the UK’s man in Washington, Lord Mandelson will be following someone thought to have done a pretty good job dealing with Team Trump in recent years, says our US correspondent Mark Stone.
Dame Karen Pierce has had the role since 2020, straddling the first Trump presidency and the Biden years, and forged close enough ties to become known as “the Trump whisperer”.
For Mandelson, “trade is going to be a massive thing” – as the UK and other countries grapple with the president-elect’s threat to impose “massive tariffs on foreign trade coming into the US”.
But there are of course “broader issues” when dealing with such an “unconventional president”, says Mark.
As a “player”, and someone who “knows how to work a room”, the prime minister clearly reckons Mandelson’s someone who can handle it.
He is certainly a “consummate diplomat”.
The appointment of Peter Mandelson as the UK’s new ambassador to the US is Sir Keir Starmer’s “most controversial appointment yet”, our chief political correspondent Jon Craig says.
He says Mandelson is “loved and loathed in equal measure”.
“He’s clearly wanted this job, and he clearly feels he is the person who will have the ear of Donald Trump,” Jon says.
“But it will be controversial because he is seen as such a New Labour crony.
“If you thought the appointment of Sue Gray was controversial, this is more so.”
Jon adds: “It’s a controversial appointment, but supporters will say it is an absolute master stroke.”
Peter Mandelson is set to be appointed as the UK’s new ambassador to Washington, Sky News understands.
It comes as Sir Keir Starmer prepares for Donald Trump’s presidency, with which he hopes he can forge positive ties.
Lord Mandelson was a huge figure during the New Labour years, but hasn’t served in government since then.
He was last a minister under Gordon Brown, 14 years ago.
Now speaking to Sophy Ridge is campaigner and rape survivor Ellie Wilson.
Ellie says her former partner was found guilty of raping her multiple times in 2022.
“I decided to waive my anonymity after he was found guilty,” she says.
“For me, after he’d been found guilty the reports kept calling him a ‘talented athlete’ and they kept talking about his ‘bright future’ and I was just no one. I was a nameless, lifeless victim.
“I didn’t want that to be my story. I didn’t want to feel like I had to be shamed and keep my identity secret, so I made the decision to waive my anonymity so that I could reclaim the narrative and tell my story on my own terms.”
‘Horrific trolling’
She says she also “wanted to expose the failures in the criminal justice system”.
Ellie also says she “faced horrific trolling and harassment” after she spoke out.
“When we’re looking at what Gisele [Pelicot] has done it’s important to remember she has taken a step that takes so much bravery because it doesn’t come without consequences,” she adds.
Sophy Ridge asks Reem Alsalem, the UN’s special rapporteur on violence against women and girls, about what more governments should do to tackle cases of rape.
She explains: “The main issue is to change laws criminalising rapes to link the definition of rape to the absence of consent.”
Such discussions are happening in France in light of the Gisele Pelicot case but should happen elsewhere too, she adds.
Ms Alsalem also calls for “a frank and urgent discussion on the role of pornography and digital platforms in accelerating this kind of appalling violence”.
The UN’s special rapporteur on violence against women and girls is speaking to Sophy Ridge about the Gisele Pelicot case.
Reem Alsalem says this is a “watershed moment” and it “represents so many cases” that happen every day.
She says: “It took this case to shock our conscious and to make us realise how violent and intrusive rape is.
“And also that many of those committing the rapes are average men that surround us women everywhere. Men we work with, who come to our homes and who walk in the streets next to us.
“It really brings back the discussion on consent.”
She says “ongoing impunity” and the “lack of accountability” is what “allows this to fester”.
Watch: The Gisele Pelicot case explained
For me, there’s only one contender for person of the year: Gisele Pelicot.
The woman who has recalibrated how we think about rape by refusing to feel shame.
“It’s time we change the way we look at rape,” she said outside court today – and more than anyone I can think of, she’s done that.
“Shame must change sides,” she said, and perhaps that is a little more true today than it’s ever been.
But there’s something else I want to talk about – something much more difficult to confront than the inspiration and dignity of Gisele Pelicot.
51 men – and if you read about them, their backgrounds, their jobs, their families, or lack of family, they’re all quite different.
A firefighter, a nurse, an unemployed alcoholic.
Some were abused as children. Some had comfortable upbringings with children of their own.
Six had domestic violence convictions, 45 didn’t.
One was 27, another was 74.
There’s no pattern here. Nothing we can point to.
Other than the fact there is no profile of a rapist, which is perhaps the most frightening thing of all.
Our weeknight politics show Politics Hub With Sophy Ridge is live now.
On our panel tonight are former Downing Street communications director Guto Harri and ex-Labour minister Caroline Flint.
Joining us to discuss the big foreign story of the day – the Gisele Pelicot trial that has shocked France – are campaigner and rape survivor Ellie Wilson and Reem Alsalem, the UN’s special rapporteur on violence against women and girls.
You can watch live in the stream below or at the top of this page.
Watch Politics Hub With Sophy Ridge from Monday to Thursday on Sky channel 501, Virgin channel 602, Freeview channel 233, on the Sky News website and app or on YouTube.
With Labour’s general election victory in the rearview mirror, eyes are turning to the next battle: who will be the party’s next candidate for London mayor.
Sadiq Khan has not said whether he will seek a historic fourth term as London mayor, but already within Labour names are beginning to emerge as potential successors should he decide not to stand again.
Those who have been tipped as potential runners in the race include Stella Creasy, Labour MP for Walthamstow, Florence Eshalomi, Labour MP for Vauxhall and Camberwell Green, and Dawn Butler, Labour MP for Brent East and former shadow minister.
Tap the link below to read all about the possible contenders from our political reporter Alexandra Rogers:
Labour’s anti-corruption minister has been named in court documents detailing claims her family embezzled billions of pounds from a nuclear power project in Bangladesh.
Economic secretary Tulip Siddiq – who holds responsibility for financial crime and illicit finance – is alleged to have helped co-ordinate meetings with the Russian government regarding the Rooppur power plant project.
In a court writ seen by Sky News, submitted to the High Court Division of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh, Ms Siddiq is named alongside her aunt, the former prime minister of Bangladesh Shaikh Hasina.
The documents cite an online news report from August and suggest Ms Siddiq received embezzled funds that came from the artificial inflation of construction costs of the power plant – which was mainly funded by the Russian government.
It’s alleged that $5bn (£3.9bn) was siphoned off from the project’s budget “in collusion with Russian officials”.
Ms Siddiq has been approached for a response.
The Labour Party and the government declined to comment.
It’s understood that the minister has not been approached by Bangladeshi authorities in relation to the allegations.
A party source suggested the accusations originated from a “spurious American aerospace website”.
Downing Street said Sir Keir Starmer had confidence in Ms Siddiq.
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