MP Criticizes Peter Mandelson’s Appointment as Ambassador to Washington

What a shame, what a disgrace,

and what an appalling appointment to make.

The question is, fundamentally, one for the Prime Minister. And it's a bit odd

that he's not here for the debate.

It's a bit odd that he hasn't spoken in the debate.

It's a bit odd that all he's done is

said what he did today at Prime Minister's Question Time.

I cannot believe that when he was about to

appoint Peter Mandelson as the ambassador to Washington, he wasn't made fully aware,

fully aware,

of all of Peter Mandelson's record.

He would have known the number of times Peter Mandelson was

forced to resign even from the Tony Blair government

because of his behavior. He would have known all of that.

He would have known Mandelson's record as an EU Commissioner.

He would have known Mandelson's record of,

um, an interesting relationship with, uh,

global dealers in minerals and many other things. He would have known all of that.

And yet he still went ahead,

apparently despite Foreign Office and other advice,

to appoint Mandelson as the ambassador to Washington. What a shame, what a disgrace,

and what an appalling appointment to make.