"George Osborne considered for UK ambassador to US under Keir Starmer, biographer reveals"

George Osborne was reportedly considered for the role of the next UK ambassador to Washington, according to sources, despite strong opposition from many within the Labour party and the broader political left.

A recent update to the biography of Keir Starmer by writer Tom Baldwin claims that senior aides of the prime minister "invested considerable effort" in advancing Osborne’s unsuccessful bid. Sources confirmed to *CuriosityNews* that the former Conservative politician was contacted about the position.

However, last December, Peter Mandelson was appointed as the new UK ambassador after Starmer determined that the Labour peer and former EU trade commissioner was the most suitable choice for the sensitive diplomatic post, particularly with Donald Trump returning to the White House.

The revelation that senior figures in No 10 believed Osborne—the architect of Conservative austerity measures that significantly strained Britain's public services—was a potential candidate may raise further concerns about their judgment among Labour members.

Recent criticism has also been directed at Downing Street’s management of last week’s controversy over welfare cuts, which resulted in key changes being abandoned and Chancellor Rachel Reeves facing a £5 billion gap in public finances.

At the time of the appointment, sources suggested that Downing Street favored a former politician for the role, given Trump’s known opposition to career bureaucrats.

Lord Mandelson played a key role in shaping New Labour and served in cabinet positions under Tony Blair and Gordon Brown. Osborne, meanwhile, had connections with Washington’s neoconservative circles and was seen as a skilled political strategist. He now works in investment banking and hosts a podcast.

In a piece for the *New World* newspaper, Baldwin, a close supporter of Starmer, argued that the prime minister should rely on his own judgment to address the country's pressing challenges, as he had done with complex international matters.

"Another example of Starmer’s decisive approach was his selection of Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the US in December. Mandelson has been widely viewed as effective, with his political experience serving him well in Washington’s high-profile environment," Baldwin wrote.

"The updated biography discloses that, shortly before the decision, George Osborne’s name was included in the final selection presented to the prime minister by Downing Street advisers.

"They are said to have worked tirelessly to promote Osborne’s candidacy, though this may have unnecessarily complicated what Starmer ultimately saw as a straightforward choice."