Labour peer inspired to wed

Harry and Meghan’s wedding has inspired Labour’s Peter Mandelson to consider marrying his longterm partner.

The Labour peer said the happy occasion had made him wonder whether it was time to tie the knot with his partner after 20 years of living together. Lord Mandelson has previously shrugged off questions over whether he would formalise his relationship with Reinaldo Avila da Silva.

But he told ITV One’s Peston on Sunday: “People all over the country are going to feel inspired, they are all going to want to run out and get married now.

“Even I am now wondering whether I should finally tie the knot with my partner after 20 years of living together.

“I’m now thinking about it. We need a discussion about this.”

Lord Mandelson later suggested he had “almost gone further” than he should have done and insisted it was not a “unilateral decision”.

Culture Secretary Matt Hancock urged the peer to look into the camera and make a proposal on live television.

Lord Mandelson said the wedding showed the princes were “well brought up boys” and they had “married well”.