Labour MPs were described as "despondent" on Sunday after the government moved to dismiss Peter Mandelson as the United Kingdom's ambassador to the United States, just days after deputy prime minister Angela Rayner resigned from government.
Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander told BBC Breakfast that MPs were still reeling from Rayner's departure and had been hit again by Mandelson's removal. "Many of us were devastated by [deputy PM] Angela Rayner's departure from the government last week," he said. "She's an extraordinary woman who's overcome the most extraordinary challenges and we are grieving and feel quite acutely that sense of loss. Now to have the dismissal of Peter Mandelson just the next week, I totally get it, of course Labour MPs will be despondent that in two weeks in a row we have seen significant resignations from public service. These are not the headlines any of us in government or in Parliament would have chosen or wanted. But the fact is when the evidence emerged, action had to be taken and we are looking forward, therefore, to moving on."
The government said Mandelson was dismissed after new information emerged this week about the extent of his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has faced questions over why he appointed Mandelson to the Washington post despite the known links between the two men.
The dismissal leaves the government searching for a new ambassador to Washington at short notice, with the change coming days before the US president is due to make a state visit to the United Kingdom. The timetable for appointing a replacement was not disclosed.
Several Labour MPs expressed anger about how the situation was handled. Paula Barker, who withdrew from the race for deputy Labour leader on Thursday, said the "delay in sacking him has only served to further erode the trust and confidence in our government and politics in the round." Charlotte Nichols said Mandelson's removal was "not immediate enough unfortunately, as he should never have been appointed in the first place." Shadow minister Sadik Al-Hassan said the episode raised "serious questions about the vetting process of the ambassador."
Labour sources and parliamentary figures have expressed frustration at the back-to-back departures, saying they damage public confidence and distract from the government's legislative and diplomatic agenda. The party has confronted calls to explain how Mandelson's appointment passed vetting and why previously disclosed associations were not deemed disqualifying.
Government officials said the decision to dismiss followed the emergence of fresh information about the nature of Mandelson's relationship with Epstein. They did not release details of the new material. Mandelson had been a prominent figure in Labour politics for decades and his appointment to the United States was initially presented as a high-profile diplomatic choice.
Rayner's resignation last week, cited by colleagues as a significant loss, and Mandelson's sacking this week mark a turbulent fortnight for the party at a sensitive moment for British foreign relations. The developments come as ministers prepare to host a state visit by the US president, an event that typically requires stable senior diplomatic representation and careful coordination between London and Washington.
Opposition and some Labour MPs say the incidents underscore the need for clearer vetting procedures for senior public appointments. The prime minister's office has yet to set out a revised vetting process or a timetable for naming a new ambassador. Ministers said they will now focus on moving forward and ensuring continuity during the forthcoming diplomatic engagements.