Former safeguarding minister Jess Phillips has openly discussed her deep concerns regarding the appointment of Lord Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the United States, revealing that she threatened to resign multiple times over the issue. Her statements come in the wake of her recent resignation from her ministerial role, a move she made publicly in protest against the leadership of Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
Phillips’ Distress Over Mandelson’s Ties
Lord Mandelson was dismissed from his position last September due to his connections with Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender and financier. Phillips expressed her dismay upon learning of Mandelson’s initial appointment, stating she felt “hurt and upset” by the decision. In an interview with BBC Newsnight, she reflected on her internal struggle, weighing the impact of voicing her frustrations against her desire to advocate for violence against women and girls.
“I had to decide whether me, like, shouting my mouth off to make myself feel better was the right thing to do, or if I could use that hurt anger to sweat the assets on violence against women and girls,” Phillips explained. She emphasised the importance of leveraging crises for advocacy, stating, “Never waste a crisis is always my mantra.”
A Series of Demands
Phillips did not shy away from detailing her efforts to remain in her ministerial position. “I didn’t just consider (resigning); I threatened to resign on a number of occasions and made demands to stop me from resigning,” she revealed. Although she refrained from disclosing specific
