The frontrunner to become the next US ambassador has said the UK should move beyond the “special relationship”.

Lord Mandelson is considered to be among the top choices to replace Dame Karen Pierce, whose tenure is likely to be extended to manage the transition to the next Trump administration.

It is unclear when Dame Karen, who oversaw the final year of the president-elect’s previous stint in the White House, will be replaced.

She had her position extended after the Covid-19 pandemic affected her first years in the role.

The Labour grandee, who is said to be among candidates including Ed Miliband and Baroness Amos, said he believed it was time for a “new relationship” between the UK and the US.

He told the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg: “I’m actually more interested in a new relationship rather than a special one”.

Lord Mandelson also advocated for a “digital and technological economic agreement” between the two countries.

He said it would be a “different sort of trade deal, not the old-fashioned sort of free trade agreement of goods and mortar.

“More sort of clicks and portals of the future, I would say, is the sort of trade deal that we need.”

He added: “I think that given that the United States and the UK are both such advanced digital countries and economies, there’s enormous scope here for us to align and to deepen the industrial economic trade partnerships between ourselves across the Atlantic.”

Trade will be a central pillar of relations between the two countries once Donald Trump enters the White House, particularly after he has indicated he wants to impose tariffs on all foreign goods imported into the US.

Lord Mandelson became the European Trade Commissioner between 2004 and 2008, negotiating trade agreements with several countries in the role.

He said that such a digital and technological deal “should embrace the European Union”, adding: “If we can get all of us working together with common trade policies, we will all benefit much more than if we were simply doing so alone or bilateral.”

Trump could block appointment

But there have been reports that Lord Mandelson’s ties to the EU would lead Mr Trump to block the Labour grandee’s appointment.

The Mirror reported that there were concerns among those in Mr Trump’s circle that Lord Mandelson’s previous role as trade commissioner would mean he would be working in the interests of the bloc, rather than just the UK.

Rishi Sunak had wanted to name Sir Tim Barrow, the former ambassador to Ukraine, Russia and the EU to the British embassy in Washington, despite tensions over appointing someone to the role before the general election.

Meanwhile, Nigel Farage, the Reform UK leader and personal friend of Mr Trump’s, had expressed a desire to work as an intermediary between his administration, the UK and the Government.

Asked whether Downing Street would take up his offer, Darren Jones, a Treasury minister, said: “I think that’s probably unlikely. My advice to Mr Farage would be he might want to concentrate his efforts on the constituency in Clacton that elected him into office, as opposed to spending his time in the United States of America.”

Remembrance Day should be “decolonised”, campaigners say as they call for an end to “nationalist narratives” that “whitewash” and “glorify” the British Empire.

Ceremonies to commemorate members of the Armed Forces who have fallen in service “gloss over the history and violence of colonialism”, according to the Peace Pledge Union (PPU).

The PPU, which distributes white poppies, says that Remembrance Sunday events should “examine the human cost of colonial conflicts” such as the Amritsar massacre in Punjab, India, and the Mau Mau uprising in Kenya, both of which took place when the territories were under British colonial rule.

Launching their new campaign aimed at “decolonising” Remembrance Sunday, the PPU said: “To remember the victims of colonial wars, we must actively challenge nationalist narratives that whitewash or glorify colonialism.

“We also need to oppose the racist legacies of colonialism that continue to influence who is remembered and whose histories and experiences are erased.”

Their campaign was launched this week ahead of the weekend of Remembrance which will begin on Saturday evening with the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall.

On Sunday, the King will lead the annual Remembrance Day Service at the Cenotaph in London – his first since his cancer diagnosis.

‘Diversion from Remembrance Sunday benefits’

Colonel Richard Kemp, the former commander of the British Forces in Afghanistan, accused the PPU of trying to “hijack” Remembrance Sunday.

“Frankly, if they have a genuine interest in commemorating or making a statement about people who died as a result of British colonisation – by all means, do it, but do it on a different day,” he said. “Don’t do it on the day that we commemorate people who died to give us the freedoms that we have today.

“Thousands of people from the British colonies from the First and Second World Wars voluntarily served to fight for the British Empire – they weren’t forced to, they wanted to do it. And those who lost their lives are commemorated alongside British people on Remembrance Sunday.”

“If people want to wear the white poppy that is entirely up to them but one of the problems is that the money donated to do white poppy goes to propagandising their political cause, it doesn’t go to helping wounded servicemen and their dependents as the red poppy does. It is a diversion from some of the benefits of Remembrance Sunday.”

London Poppy Day, the flagship event for the Royal British Legion’s annual Poppy Appeal, launched on Thursday, with about 2,500 volunteers and Armed Forces personnel selling poppies and collecting donations at Network Rail and TfL stations across the capital.

The Royal British Legion distributes about 30 million poppies a year. Last year, the Poppy Appeal raised £49.2 million for members in need of the Armed Forces. This year, the charity’s target is £53.1 million.

James Cartlidge, the shadow defence secretary, said: “The point about the festival of Remembrance is that it is to remember those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice in order to defend the freedom of our nation and all freedom-loving nations.

“I will be proud to wear the traditional red poppy because we must never forget the sacrifice of those who gave their lives so that we can be free.”

He said that the PPU’s campaign to “decolonise” Remembrance Day “would completely undermine that message” adding: “I would encourage everyone to continue to support the poppy appeal and to observe all the traditional facets of Remembrance weekend.

“As the war in Ukraine has shown, if you want to have peace, you have to be ultimately prepared to fight for it by deterring your adversaries.”

White poppies have been worn since 1933. They stand for remembrance for all victims of war, both civilian and military, of all nationalities, as well as challenging militarism and a commitment to peace.

They differ from red poppies, which were designed specifically to commemorate and support the British and allied Armed Forces personnel.

Geoff Tibbs, the PPU’s Remembrance Project Manager, said: “When we still see politicians openly celebrating the British Empire, it is vital that we remember the impacts that colonial wars and violence have had – and continue to have – around the globe.

“We need to make space for the victims of colonial wars on Remembrance Day. This involves listening to the voices of those affected by that history and the ongoing impacts of colonialism, both in the UK and elsewhere. It involves actively challenging the racist legacies of colonialism that continue to influence whose lives are valued and whose are not.”

He said that a number of official Remembrance Sunday events around the country are making use of white poppies in their ceremonies.

This year, Haringey Council’s Remembrance Sunday ceremony will feature a white poppy wreath for the first time – a move which is supported by the Mayor’s Office of the north London borough, which coordinates the event.

It joins several other events including Sale Town Hall, South Manchester where white poppies will be included in the official event for the second year running, as well as ceremonies in Leicester and Aberystwyth.

Almost 1,500 people have been injured or killed in the last 10 years in accidents triggered by people driving too slowly.

Slow drivers can cause behaviour such as tailgating, undertaking, congestion and road rage, which can then lead to much more serious traffic incidents.

Figures from the Department for Transport show that in the last 10 years 1,378 people have been killed or injured in 947 crashes where police put somebody driving too slow as a contributory factor to the crash.

Of these, 17 were fatal accidents with 18 people killed, while 232 left victims with severe, often life-changing, injuries.

In 2023, 24 people were seriously injured in collisions, including two lorry drivers and five motorcyclists, where police believed slow driving contributed to the crash.

The 18 road deaths logged against slow drivers in the last 10 years include five motorcyclists, two pedestrians, eight people in cars, with the remaining three in lorries or other vehicles.

No fatalities were associated with people driving too slowly last year. However 96 people were reported as suffering minor injuries in accidents triggered by slow driving.

Often the incidents occur when a frustrated motorist attempts to overtake a slow-moving vehicle and then crashes head-on into another vehicle coming in the opposite direction.

Minimum speeds are rare on UK roads – but do exist in some high-risk locations such as tunnels.

According to Rule 169 of the Highway Code, motorists should not hold up a long queue of traffic, especially if they are driving a large or slow-moving vehicle.

It tells drivers to frequently check their mirrors and if necessary, pull in where it is safe and let traffic pass.

Going too slowly on any road can lead to a motorist being penalised for careless driving, which normally carries a £100 fine and three penalty points.

In total last year there were 1,624 people killed in road traffic accidents, a 5 per cent drop on 2022’s figure of 1,711.

‘Unsafe behaviours’

Nicholas Mantel, head of motor insurance at Churchill, said: “It’s widely recognised that speeding is dangerous, but many drivers don’t realise that driving too slowly can also pose significant risks.

“Excessively slow driving can cause frustration and unsafe behaviours like tailgating, increasing the chances of accidents on the roads.

“While tailgating is an aggressive driving behaviour that should be avoided, slow drivers may inadvertently create unsafe situations by forcing others to follow too closely. Many drivers are also unaware of the safe braking distances required between vehicles.

“To help prevent accidents, it’s vital for drivers to be mindful of their surroundings and adjust their speed according to road conditions – whether that’s going faster or slower.”

He advised maintaining a two-second gap between a driver’s vehicle and the one ahead.

Failed an eye test

It comes after a driver in his 80s had his licence taken off him last year after he was caught driving at 10mph on a main A-road in Wiltshire. The day after being stopped, the driver failed an eye test.

In September 2020, Derbyshire police revealed they had fined the motorist behind the wheel of an Audi for driving too slowly on the M1.

The police force’s roads team wrote: “M1. Cruising in lane 3 of 4 between 40 and 50mph. Causing mayhem forcing traffic to take evasive action. Perplexed look when explaining the concept of lane hogging.

“Ticketed for driving without due care and attention, to hopefully receive awareness course.”

Donald Trump “will hurt America” if he allows Putin to win in Ukraine, Nato’s top military official has said.

In the strongest criticism of Mr Trump’s so-called peace plans since he won last week’s election, Adml Rob Bauer said Ukraine is of “strategic importance” to the US.

He also warned that North Korea’s entry into the war on Russia’s side was a “problem” for the US.

It came as the Kremlin welcomed what it said was Mr Trump’s openness to a deal that could bring an end to the war.

Dmitry Peskov, the spokesman for the Kremlin, said: “The signals are positive. Trump during his election talked about how he perceives everything through deals, that he can make a deal that can lead to peace.”

Last week, Mr Trump was reported considering a plan that would freeze the conflict on the current front lines, with European peace-keepers deployed to an 800-mile buffer zone.

On Saturday, Donald Jr, Mr Trump’s son, mocked Volodymyr Zelenksy on social media, resharing a video that said Ukraine’s financial “allowance” from the US is about to run out.

In his first term, Mr Trump threatened to pull the United States out of Nato, calling on European nations to increase their own defence spending rather than rely on the protection of America.

Speaking at a defence summit in Prague, Adml Bauer made an appeal for the US to remain engaged in the Ukraine war, saying it “connected to the rules-based international order [and to] the heart of Europe”.

He added: “It is connected to the ambitions of Russia, and indirectly, the ambitions of China. I cannot imagine that it is in the interest of the United States to allow Putin to come out of this conflict as a winner.”

Warning of Russia’s growing military cooperation with belligerent countries such as North Korea and Iran, Adml Bauer said Russia’s export of nuclear and ballistic missile technology was “a challenge and a problem for the United States”.

“China plays a role here as well. He [Trump] cannot solve Ukraine without looking at all these other plays as well, because otherwise the United States will hurt itself.”

Adml Bauer, as the chairman of Nato’s military committee, links forces to the alliance’s political leaders. He commands no troops of his own but is one of the most influential military officers in the alliance.

Earlier in an exclusive interview with The Telegraph, he suggested Mr Trump’s idea of a 24-hour peace plan for Ukraine needs to be viewed through “a wider aperture”.

“The fact that Russia and China have allowed North Korea to change from being the most isolated country in the world with a large set of UN Security Council resolutions against it – supported by Russia and China – they are now, suddenly, a player.

“That is a problem for the US.”

Russia has massed some 50,000 troops including North Korean soldiers in an attempt to push Ukrainian forces out of its Kursk border region.

US officials said they have been attacking Ukrainian positions with missile strikes and artillery fire, but they have not yet begun a major assault there.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials say they expect an attack involving the North Korean troops in the coming days.

On Saturday, Mr Trump announced that he would not appoint Mike Pompeo, the former CIA director, to his new cabinet.

The news came as a blow to those who hoped Mr Trump might pursue a more aggressive policy towards Russia, as Mr Pompeo has long advocated for increased aid to Ukraine.