Fallout from the Epstein scandal persists in stirring up British politics while Trump prepares for his visit to the UK.
The United States President, Donald Trump, is currently on a state visit to the United Kingdom, a trip that has been months in the planning. During his stay, Trump expressed his intention to help the U.K. secure a better trade deal with the U.S.
However, the visit has been overshadowed by the controversy surrounding the appointment of Peter Mandelson as British ambassador to the U.S. Mandelson, a former Labour minister, was dismissed due to his connections with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The appointment of Mandelson has been criticised by MPs who claim that red flags were missed or ignored before his controversial appointment. Emily Thornberry, chair of the parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, stated that something went wrong in the appointment process, given Mandelson's known links to Epstein.
Conservative opposition leader Kemi Badenoch has called on Starmer to apologise to Epstein's victims for making the appointment. Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey has urged Starmer to question Trump about Epstein during their meeting this week.
Edward Leigh, a long-serving senior Conservative MP, observed that Trump must be embarrassed about his relationship with Epstein and is likely furious about the way the Epstein scandal has been handled in the UK.
Trump will not address the parliament during his visit to avoid potential embarrassment. Instead, he is being hosted by King Charles III at Windsor Castle, which is 25 miles from London. Trump described Windsor Castle as the 'ultimate' location before leaving for the U.K.
In response to the controversy, Downing Street has appointed James Roscoe as interim ambassador for the duration of Trump's visit. Roscoe previously served as communications director for Queen Elizabeth II.
There is a possibility that Trump may make comments about Mandelson or express his preferences for the next ambassador during his visit. The decision to delay appointing a new ambassador is not without risk, as it could impact the ongoing trade negotiations.
The appointment of Mandelson has pushed the Epstein scandal back up the political agenda in the UK. The current ambassador's name is not provided in the search results, but it is clear that this issue will continue to be a point of discussion during Trump's visit.
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