Why Washington could reject Mandelson as Britain's next US ambassador

There is a theoretical possibility that Washington could reject Mandelson's appointment as ambassador.

That is because the process known in diplomatic lingo as agrément - or vetting and approval of a new ambo by the host country - won't complete for at least two weeks, and possibly longer.

That is why Mandelson's disclosure and confirmation as ambassador was so surprising. Such senior announcements almost never happen till after agrément.

So will the US reject Mandelson? Normally there would be zero chance of that.

But...

For one thing Trump and his team were given almost no warning of Starmer's choice of Mandelson - and I am told he is not fond of surprises.

And for another, there are some around Trump who are making it clear they are hostile to Mandelson.

Also - and to state the obvious - Trump does not govern or act in accordance with normal traditions.

So the premature leak of Mandelson's appointment, before the ground was properly smoothed with the in-coming president, carries a marginally greater than theoretical risk that Mandelson will never actually take up the post.

For Starmer this hugely important appointment is all a bit more unpredictable and chaotic than he would think ideal.

The lesson for anyone else seeking one of the world's great government jobs, inter alia, is be careful what you say on a podcast, unless you are certain your days of high office are well and truly over.

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