UK’s new ambassador to US said Starmer had been ‘on the ropes’ over Mandelson scandal

Mandelson’s replacement made comments in February, with diplomat also saying Israel has special relationship with US

The UK’s new ambassador to the US has described Keir Starmer as having been “on the ropes” over the Peter Mandelson scandal and said it is Israel rather than Britain that has a “special relationship” with the White House.

Christian Turner, who took office in February to replace Mandelson as the UK’s most senior diplomat in Washington, made the remarks privately to a group of students visiting the US in the same month he was appointed.