18th Dec 2025 22:47
(Alliance News) - The British government on Thursday named career diplomat Christian Turner as its new ambassador to the US, replacing Peter Mandelson who was sacked over his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein.
The foreign ministry said in a statement that the 53-year-old Turner was "one of the UK's most experienced senior diplomats" and called on Washington to agree to his appointment.
Turner will be tasked with building close relations with the notoriously unpredictable US President Donald Trump, and his appointment comes at a crucial time for peace efforts in Ukraine.
"The UK and US have a very special relationship, and Christian's extensive experience as an outstanding diplomat will support this uniquely close bond and ensure it continues to flourish," Prime Minister Keir Starmer said.
Starmer will be hoping to set the UK embassy in Washington on a more even keel after sacking Mandelson in September, following "reprehensible" fresh revelations about his ties to convicted sex offender Epstein.
The dismissal of Mandelson, a Labour party grandee, caused a political and diplomatic headache for Starmer as it came just days before a state visit to the UK by Trump.
Turner, who had been appointed as the UK's envoy to the United Nations but had yet to take up the post, is seen as a more traditional appointment, since he comes from within the diplomatic service.
Turner has spent nearly three decades working at the heart of the British government, including inside 10 Downing Street and the foreign ministry.
He was high commissioner to Kenya between 2009 and 2012 and carried out the same role in Pakistan from December 2019 to January 2024.
Turner said he was "honoured" to have been nominated for one of the most prestigious jobs in the foreign diplomatic service.
"At a pivotal time for the transatlantic relationship, I look forward to working with President Trump's administration," he said in a statement.
Starmer has gone to great lengths to try to keep Trump onside, refraining from criticising the mercurial president and acting as a bridge with European allies over Ukraine.
The prime minister and the royal family feted the US leader when they hosted him for a historic second state visit in September.
Starmer and Trump signed a tech deal during the pomp-filled trip but Washington announced this week that it was suspending implementation.
Also in Turner's in-tray will be dealing with the Trump administration on Ukraine, where there is disagreement over what territory Kyiv might have to concede to Russia to end the conflict.
Mandelson was nicknamed the "Prince of Darkness" for his years as a media spin doctor for Labour.
He came with significant baggage as he had twice been forced to resign from government and his friendship with the late Epstein was publicly known when he was appointed ambassador.
Starmer fired him after emails revealed he had sent supportive messages to Epstein while the wealthy money manager was being investigated in the US in 2008 for sexual offences.
source: AFP
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