Overview
- Christian Turner, Britain’s ambassador to Washington, was recorded telling visiting UK students in February that the phrase “special relationship” is outdated and that the US’s only such bond is probably with Israel, according to a tape published Tuesday by the Financial Times.
- He also said it was extraordinary that the Jeffrey Epstein files had toppled prominent figures in Britain, including his predecessor Peter Mandelson and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, while no comparable figures in the US had faced consequences.
- The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office responded that the comments were private and not an expression of the UK government’s position.
- The leak landed during King Charles III’s state visit to Washington, creating a diplomatic headache as London tries to steady ties strained by the Iran conflict and the Mandelson fallout.
- In domestic remarks on the tape, Turner said Prime Minister Keir Starmer had been on the ropes over the Mandelson appointment, and on Wednesday Starmer said he would not sack Turner and that he retains confidence in his ambassador.