Peter Mandelson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Right Honourable The Lord Mandelson PC
Official portrait, 2025
British Ambassador to the United States
In office 10 February 2025 – 11 September 2025
Monarch	Charles III
President	Donald Trump
Prime Minister	Sir Keir Starmer
Preceded by	Dame Karen Pierce
Succeeded by	James Roscoe (as chargé d'affaires)
First Secretary of State
In office 5 June 2009 – 11 May 2010
Prime Minister	Gordon Brown
Preceded by	John Prescott
Succeeded by	William Hague
Lord President of the Council
In office 5 June 2009 – 11 May 2010
Prime Minister	Gordon Brown
Preceded by	Baroness Royall of Blaisdon
Succeeded by	Nick Clegg
Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills President of the Board of Trade
In office 3 October 2008 – 11 May 2010
Prime Minister	Gordon Brown
Preceded by	John Hutton
Succeeded by	Vince Cable
In office 27 July 1998 – 23 December 1998
Prime Minister	Tony Blair
Preceded by	Margaret Beckett
Succeeded by	Stephen Byers
European Commissioner for Trade
In office 22 November 2004 – 3 October 2008
President	José Manuel Barroso
Preceded by	Pascal Lamy
Succeeded by	Catherine Ashton
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
In office 11 October 1999 – 24 January 2001
Prime Minister	Tony Blair
Preceded by	Mo Mowlam
Succeeded by	John Reid
Minister without Portfolio
In office 2 May 1997 – 27 July 1998
Prime Minister	Tony Blair
Preceded by	Brian Mawhinney
Succeeded by	Charles Clarke
Member of the House of Lords Lord Temporal
Incumbent
Assumed office 13 October 2008 Life Peer
Member of Parliament for Hartlepool
In office 9 April 1992 – 8 September 2004
Preceded by	Ted Leadbitter
Succeeded by	Iain Wright
Personal details
Born	Peter Benjamin Mandelson (1953-10-21) 21 October 1953 (age 71) Hendon, Middlesex, England
Political party	Labour
Relatives	Lord Morrison of Lambeth (grandfather)
Education	Hendon County Grammar School
Alma mater	St Catherine's College, Oxford
Signature
Nickname	Prince of Darkness

Peter Benjamin Mandelson, Baron Mandelson (born 21 October 1953), is a British politician and diplomat. He was a Member of Parliament (MP) for Hartlepool from 1992 to 2004. He held many important jobs, called cabinet positions, in the governments of Prime Ministers Tony Blair and Gordon Brown.

He is a member of the Labour Party and was a key figure in modernising the party, which became known as New Labour. This helped Labour win the 1997 general election. Because of his skill with the media, he was sometimes called a "spin doctor".

Mandelson also worked in Europe as the European Commissioner for Trade. Later, he became a member of the House of Lords. In 2025, he served as the British Ambassador to the United States. His career has had many successes, but he has also been involved in several controversies which caused him to leave his government jobs.

Early Life and Education

Peter Mandelson was born in Hendon, Middlesex, England on 21 October 1953. His father, George, worked as an advertising manager for The Jewish Chronicle newspaper. His mother's father was Herbert Morrison, a very famous Labour Party politician who served in the government after the Second World War.

Mandelson went to Hendon County Grammar School. As a teenager, he was interested in acting and appeared in a local play. He later studied philosophy, politics and economics (PPE) at St Catherine's College, Oxford, a part of the University of Oxford.

Start of His Political Career

After university, Mandelson worked as a television producer for a show called Weekend World. In 1985, the leader of the Labour Party, Neil Kinnock, asked Mandelson to be the party's director of communications. His job was to improve how the party presented its ideas to the public.

He was very good at this and became known as a "spin doctor," which is a name for someone who is an expert at influencing public opinion. He helped run the Labour Party's campaign for the 1987 general election. Although Labour did not win, they gained more seats in Parliament.

In 1992, Mandelson was elected as the Member of Parliament for Hartlepool. He became a close friend and advisor to Tony Blair and helped him become the leader of the Labour Party in 1994. Mandelson was one of the main people behind the "New Labour" project, which aimed to make the party's ideas more modern and appealing to more voters.

Career in Government

Official portrait, 2004

When Labour won the 1997 general election, Mandelson became a minister in Tony Blair's new government. He was put in charge of the Millennium Dome project, a large exhibition to celebrate the year 2000.

Working with Tony Blair

During his time in government, Mandelson held several important roles, including Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. In Northern Ireland, he helped set up a new government where different political parties could share power.

However, Mandelson's time in the government had some difficult moments. He had to resign from his job twice due to controversies.

European Commissioner

Mandelson and US President George W. Bush in February 2005

In 2004, Mandelson left Parliament to take on a new role in Europe. He became the European Commissioner for Trade. His job was to manage trade deals between the European Union and other countries around the world. He held this position for four years.

Return to Government

Mandelson (left) with Gordon Brown at the Progressive Governance Conference, February 2010.

In 2008, Prime Minister Gordon Brown asked Mandelson to return to the UK government. Because he was no longer an MP, he was made a life peer, which gave him the title Baron Mandelson and a seat in the House of Lords.

He was given the important job of Business Secretary. A year later, he was also made First Secretary of State, a very senior position in the government. He was a powerful figure in the government until the Labour Party lost the 2010 general election.

Life After Cabinet

After leaving the government in 2010, Mandelson co-founded a company called Global Counsel. This type of company, known as a lobbying firm, advises businesses on how to work with governments.

He also remained active in politics, often sharing his opinions on the Labour Party and British politics. He was a strong supporter of the UK remaining in the European Union and argued for a second referendum on Brexit.

Ambassador to the United States

Mandelson and US President Donald Trump in June 2025

In December 2024, Prime Minister Keir Starmer chose Mandelson for one of the most important jobs in British diplomacy: Ambassador to the United States. He officially started the role in February 2025.

Although he had strongly criticised Donald Trump in the past, Mandelson said he respected that Trump had been elected President and that he would work to keep the relationship between the UK and the US strong.

Dismissal from Ambassador Role

Mandelson's time as ambassador ended very suddenly. He was dismissed by Prime Minister Keir Starmer on 11 September 2025.

Honorary Roles

• Mandelson was the President of the Central School of Speech and Drama.
• In 2013, he was appointed to the historic position of High Steward of Hull.
• He served as the Chancellor of Manchester Metropolitan University from 2016 to 2024. The university removed his honorary degree in September 2025.

In the Media

Mandelson's career has been the subject of several TV shows and films.

• Mandelson: The Real PM? (2010) was a documentary about his time as Business Secretary.
• He has been portrayed by actors in TV dramas, including The Deal (2003) and Coalition (2015).

Honours

• UK Baron (2008)
• Grand Officer, Order of the Star of Italy (2016)
• Officer, Légion d'honneur (2017)

See also

In Spanish: Peter Mandelson para niños