Sir Alec Shelbrooke

Sir Alec Shelbrooke

Conservative — Wetherby and Easingwold

Speaking in the House of Commons on 16 September 2025

Debate

Ambassador to the United States

Contribution

I am afraid I will not. I do not want to test the patience of the House—a lot of people want to speak. The question the Minister has to answer decisively today is, “Who knew what and when?” He has to answer who made the decision to award the ambassadorship to Peter Mandelson and what lobbying took place. Any of us who have been to America working in international affairs know from meeting Karen Pierce that she is one of the most respected and capable ambassadors. It cannot be true to say that such a distinguished ambassador as Dame Karen would not have been able to carry out the task—a task for which members sitting around the Cabinet table today felt that man was worth the risk.

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