Donald Trump’s UK state visit arrives at awkward moment after Mandelson exit

Sacking of Peter Mandelson over Epstein ties threatens to overshadow fanfare of US president’s two-day trip

For Donald Trump, the priority was to avoid any distractions. But as he arrives for his second state visit to the UK – an unprecedented honour for a US president – the crisis engulfing Keir Starmer’s government threatens to overshadow the proceedings.

The circumstances of that crisis are especially awkward. Peter Mandelson was unceremoniously sacked as the UK’s ambassador to Washington on Thursday after emails were published in which he had urged his friend Jeffrey Epstein to fight for early release from prison in 2008.