Donald Trump's administration has approved former minister Peter Mandelson to become UK ambassador to Washington, sources say.

It comes after Trump ally Chris LaCivita branded the former Minister a "moron" on social media.

It was reported that US senators passed on a file to the FBI to investigate the Labour peer’s links to China, cited as the main reason that President Trump was said to be considering declining his nomination.

However, two inside sources told Politico that the Trump regime granted Mandelson his agrément, a diplomatic term for the formal agreement to accept his appointment.

Lord Mandelson is set to become the new ambassador to the US