i would like to thank dame karen pearce for her last invaluable service in the last four years, invaluablevice in the last fouryears, herwisdom invaluable service in the last four years, her wisdom and steadfast support she has given me personally since july. steadfast support she has given me personally sincejuly. she made history as the first woman to serve as the first uk ambassador to the us and has been an outstanding representative of our country abroad. i will show the very best for the future. and attach to the premise of�*s statement, from lord mandelson, it is a great honour to serve the country in this way, we face challenges as britain but also opportunities and it is a privilege to work with the government to land those opportunities both for our economy and our nation's security and to advance our historic alliance with the united states. i talked about it being a hugely, hugely important moment, because of course peter mandelson, the former cabinet minister, he of course was fired from the cabinet, but of course he is hugely, hugely skilled as a political negotiator. somebod

.- impression was, and they always speak carefully, the foreign office were keen to extend dame karen pearcere in the us, they were keen to keep her on a because she is a career diplomat but the view in downing street and with morgan mcsweeney, is that we need these big political figure. that we need these big political fiaure. �* , . that we need these big political fiaure. v . , that we need these big political fiaure. �*, .,, figure. it's a big politicalfigure. the last big _ figure. it's a big politicalfigure. the last big political _ figure. it's a big politicalfigure. the last big political figure - figure. it's a big politicalfigure. | the last big political figure given thisjob i the last big political figure given this job i suspect was peterjay, the last big political figure given thisjob i suspect was peterjay, we have to go back 50 years to find an appointment like this. this is a historic and fascinating appointment whatever we think of peter mandelson.— whatever we think of peter mandelson. . . , . ., , , mandelson. that was an embarrassment and it did not — mandelson. that was