Ed Miliband says he and Lammy feared Mandelson appointment could ‘blow up’

Energy secretary says both he and the then foreign secretary were worried making Mandelson US envoy was risky

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Ed Miliband and David Lammy discussed concerns about the appointment of Peter Mandelson as the UK’s ambassador to Washington which they feared could “blow up”, the energy secretary has revealed.

Miliband said he had spoken to Lammy, who was foreign secretary at the time Mandelson was given the Washington post, with both expressing reservations.