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Anti-Trump Campaigners Fear Starmer’s US Ambassador Pick Peter Mandelson Could Slash UK Regulations to Secure Trade Deal

They worry Starmer’s Government will ‘slash and burn’ consumer regulations and protections in order to sign a UK-US trade deal with Donald Trump

New Labour grandee Lord Peter Mandelson pictured in February last year. Photo: PA Images / Alamy Stock Photo

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Anti-Trump groups in Britain believe that the UK’s choice for US ambassador under President Donald Trump could adopt a slash-and-burn approach to regulations and protections in order to secure a trade deal. 

The Stop Trump Coalition is concerned that a mooted US-UK trade deal under Donald Trump could further open up parts of Britain’s economy to US outsourcing giants and tech billionaires.

It comes amid conflicting reports about whether Trump will approve Keir Starmer’s choice to appoint the former New Labour minister, peer and ex-EU commissioner Lord Mandelson to the weighty US ambassador role. 

Lord Mandelson played a key role in pushing for the controversial – and eventually jettisoned – Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, a planned trade agreement between the European Union and the United States when the UK was still in the EU. 

Many unions, non-profits and climate campaigners opposed the deal as it would have meant putting European workers into direct competition with Americans.

Nick Dearden is a director of the international campaign group Global Justice Now and a spokesperson for the Stop Trump Coalition in the UK – which mobilised tens of thousands of people in cities across the UK during Trump’s first presidency.

He told Byline Times: “What really concerns me is that he was the driving force in the European Commission behind the TTIP trade deal between the EU and US, which was about giving US industry massive access to European industry in a way that would have [lowered] our standards…

“[The PM] wants him to be talking to Trump [to say]: what can we give him to avoid tariffs [on UK goods]? If Mandelson’s past reputation is anything to go by, what we can give him will be our food standards, our public services, access for the biggest American [companies] on the most favourable terms possible. 

“That really scares me…Unlike a career diplomat, he is going to be far more off the leash on some of those issues.”

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Asked what he saw Britain giving up in return for closer trading arrangements with the US under Trump, Dearden added: “If we assume they’re not going to address food standards because it’s too much of a headache – though I’m not sure that’s where they are – then I think it’s going to be [rule changes] on big tech, AI, and access to UK markets and public services from American big tech [firms].  

“Labour might see that as positive because it’s part of its reimagining of how public services operate. But we know from looking at the American healthcare system and the dangers with data that this is probably going to be the core of where we need to be extremely careful.”

Dearden also admitted that the politics of opposition to Trump are “different this time round” as he won the popular vote against Democrat Kamala Harris. 

But referring to Keir Starmer’s Government and its ‘tough’ rhetoric on immigration, welfare and other usually right-wing coded issues, he claimed that PM Starmer “still seems to assume there is a hardcore, large Trumpist minority in this country, that they want to appease.”

“The idea that you’re going to undercut [Reform UK’s vote] by providing a soft version of Trump’s rhetoric is what we really want to challenge. You’re going to undermine Trump and Trumpism by setting out a far more progressive position in terms of defending everyone’s rights, but also building the kind of economy where people don’t feel the anger that many in the US clearly do,” he added. 

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The UK Stop Trump Coalition wants to organise far beyond London, “to do more community work and reach out around the country” – not simply major demonstrations in the capital.

“Particularly given how the culture wars have intensified since we were here last time, we need to think about how we actually begin building power within communities around the UK.” 

Dearden and his fellow campaigners fear that PM Starmer’s Government will end up defeated like Joe Biden’s US administration if it fails to improve people’s lives – and create a clear narrative in opposition to the hard- and far-right. 

“Unfortunately, Labour has become absolutely fixated on the idea that we just need more and more growth, wherever it comes from. The whole thing with AI and the big tech industry being the source of growth – I don’t think people are going to buy that for a second. 

“Whenever [ministers] speak, it doesn’t sound like they’re really on the same level as ordinary people concerned about their lives in this country. They sound distant, cold, and very cosy with an elite which is increasingly unpopular.” 

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Pro-Environment and LGBT+ groups are watching the UK Government closely for how it responds to President Trump’s first actions back in office, should he for instance pull out (as promised) from the landmark UN Paris climate agreement. 

“Will they just let all of this pass when serious human rights are being dismantled, or will they actually say they believe in a very different form of politics?” Dearden asked. 

The only thing which is certain is that the next few years are extremely uncertain – with an unpredictable President in the White House, with a huge stack of wild promises. 

Dearden added: “Nobody knows what’s going to happen across a whole range of issues. If he passes a shocking Executive Order today or tomorrow, I think we’re going to get substantial support and common mobilisation, particularly on climate change.” 

At a lobby briefing with journalists on Monday, a spokesperson for No 10 said the UK’s US ambassador pick Lord Mandelson brings “considerable expertise”.

The PM’s spokesman said: “We think [he] will take our relationship to the next stage…[And] we’re confident that when President Trump comes to review Lord Mandelson’s credentials, he’ll see the considerable experience that Lord Mandelson has.”

PM Starmer sent his “warmest congratulations” to President Trump on his inauguration day today (20th January), saying the two countries have a “uniquely close bond”. He also spoke of the “need to deepen and invest in the transatlantic relationship.”

Lord Mandelson and the FCDO have been contacted for comment and we will update this piece with any response.

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Josiah Mortimer also writes the On the Ground column, exclusive to the print edition of Byline Times.

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