US P resident Joe Biden is facing criticism for picking a Democratic fundraiser with little diplomatic experience to be America’s new UK ambassador to the Court of St James in Britain.

Jane Hartley, who brought in millions of dollars to Biden’s presidential campaign, has reportedly accepted the offer following months of indecision over who was best placed to take the job. Mr Biden had struggled for months to fill what is considered one of the US’s most prestigious postings.

The 71-year-old is considered a surprise choice. Former New York mayor Mike Bloomberg; former secretary of state Colin Powell; and former Delaware senator and Biden’s longtime friend Ted Kaufman had all been considered candidates. Mrs Hartley started her career working for the Democratic National Convention before briefly serving as an official in the Jimmy Carter administration in the 1970s, but spent much of the next few decades in the private sector, leading two international economic policy consultancies — the Observatory Group and the G7 Group.

New York-born Mrs Hartley, who is married to investment banker Ralph Schlosstein, served a brief stint as ambassador to France and Monaco between 2014 and 2017.

Critics say Mr Biden appears to have rewarded loyalty over experience, with Mrs Hartley supporting him early in the primaries before it was clear he would win the Democratic nomination. The US president has in recent weeks made several nominations to diplomatic positions, tapping a mix of foreign service officers, donors and politicians.

 

Telegraph Media Group Limited [2021]