Christian Turner, the UK's ambassador to the US, made private remarks to students in February that are now causing embarrassment for Downing Street. He described Keir Starmer as having been "on the ropes" over the Peter Mandelson scandal and said Israel, not Britain, has a "special relationship" with the United States.
Ambassador's Candid Comments
Turner, who replaced Mandelson in February, told a group of UK sixth-form students visiting Washington that the Epstein scandal had "brought down" Mandelson and "potentially the prime minister." He noted it was "extraordinary" that the scandal "hasn't touched anybody" in the US.
Regarding Starmer's future, Turner said the prime minister had been "pretty clearly on the ropes" and his future looked "quite touch and go." He described Starmer as a "stubborn guy" unlikely to quit voluntarily, adding: "The moment I would look to is the May elections. If Labour does very badly ... I suspect the party will be able to go over that threshold and remove him."
Special Relationship Remarks
On the "special relationship" between the UK and US, Turner called it "quite nostalgic, quite backwards-looking" and said it "has a lot of baggage about it." He added: "I think there is probably one country that has a special relationship with the United States – and that is probably Israel."
Official Reactions
A Foreign Office spokesperson said the comments were "private, informal" and "certainly not any reflection of the UK government's position." A Whitehall source described the discussion as informal and focused on student questions about diplomacy and political issues, never intended as an on-the-record statement of government policy. No 10 declined immediate comment.
Background on Turner's Appointment
Turner, a career civil servant and diplomat, was appointed as a safe pair of hands after Mandelson's disastrous tenure. He was chosen over Starmer's business adviser Varun Chandra, who took an expanded role in Downing Street, and Nigel Casey, ambassador to Russia. Olly Robbins, former top Foreign Office civil servant, is understood to have lobbied against another political appointment.
At the time of Turner's appointment, Starmer praised his "extensive experience as an outstanding diplomat" and said the UK and US have a "very special relationship." Turner previously served as ambassador to the UN and political director at the Foreign Office.
