Peter Mandelson is reportedly set to ask Nigel Farage to help him win over Donald Trump in his new role as UK ambassador to the US.
He is said to be ready to work with the Reform UK leader as part of an attempt to persuade the president-elect not to target Britain with tariffs.
Experts have warned of a looming trade war after Mr Trump himself said “Tariff is my favourite word” and promised to implement 10 to 20 per cent tariffs on all goods coming into the US – a figure that rises to 60 per cent for goods from China.
Lord Mandelson’s indication that he would work with Mr Farage comes despite warnings from senior Labour figures that making overtures to politicians such as the Reform UK leader risks elevating the right-wing cause.
But referring to their scepticism, a source close to the Labour peer told The Telegraph: “I am sure that would be a view held by some, but not those who need to conduct UK-US relations in the most optimum way.”
Last month, speaking on his podcast for The Times, Lord Mandelson urged the government to “swallow your pride” and not exclude Mr Farage from its efforts to improve relations with the president-elect.
Over the weekend, the Reform leader, who has been a close ally of Mr Trump since his 2016 presidential election campaign, offered his services to Lord Mandelson, suggesting that he could act as a link to the president-elect if it would be in Britain’s national interest.
It comes amid concerns that Lord Mandelson’s past remarks about Mr Trump – whom he once described as “little short of a white nationalist and racist” – could scupper attempts to foster close relations between the US and the UK.
Chris LaCivita, a senior adviser to Mr Trump’s 2024 election campaign, described Lord Mandelson as an “absolute moron” after his appointment as ambassador was announced.
Sir Keir Starmer confirmed on Friday that Lord Mandelson had been chosen to be the UK’s ambassador in Washington.
The former cabinet minister and European Union trade tsar said “It is a great honour to serve the country in this way.”
Mr Trump has nominated businessman Warren Stephens to serve as the US ambassador to the UK.
Over the weekend, the president-elect named Mark Burnett, the British producer behind reality TV show The Apprentice, as his special envoy to the UK, saying he would bring “a unique blend of diplomatic acumen and international recognition” to the role.
Mr Burnett, 64, was instrumental in significantly raising the profile of Mr Trump in the US when he was appointed as the main host of the North American version of The Apprentice.
But in October 2016, he and his wife, actor Roma Downey, distanced themselves from Mr Trump, criticising the “hatred, division and misogyny that has been a very unfortunate part of his campaign”.
Lord Mandelson has been contacted for comment.