Mandelson was ‘worth the risk’ as US ambassador, business secretary says

Peter Kyle says ‘singular talents’ of Mandelson were balanced against warnings over links with Jeffrey Epstein

Peter Mandelson had “singular talents” which meant his appointment as US ambassador had been “worth the risks” despite warnings in the vetting process over his links with Jeffrey Epstein, the business secretary has said.

The dismissal of Mandelson as ambassador after new revelations about his close contact with the financier after he was convicted of child sex offences has caused fury in the Labour party about the slowness of Number 10’s response, as well as a major headache ahead of the US president Donald Trump’s arrival this week for a state visit.