Politico: UK deputy ambassador in Washington abruptly leaves post

The UK’s deputy ambassador to Washington has left his post abruptly amid an investigation into an alleged security leak linked to the National Security Council, Politico reported, citing sources familiar with the matter.

The sources said James Roscoe, one of Britain’s most senior diplomats, departed following questions raised during an inquiry into the disclosure of details from an NSC meeting concerning the war in Iran.

Embassy staff were informed on May 19 that Roscoe would be leaving his position, with no official explanation provided at the time.

A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesperson confirmed that Roscoe has left his post but declined to comment further.

Roscoe had been acting as interim ambassador following the departure of former envoy Peter Mandelson, and had also overseen King Charles’s recent state visit to the United States.

Two individuals briefed on the inquiry told POLITICO that Roscoe had been questioned as part of the investigation into the alleged leak. A third UK official described the matter as “extremely serious”.

The inquiry reportedly relates to a breach involving details from a National Security Council meeting in which discussions were held over US use of British bases during strikes on Iran. The matter has previously been described in Westminster as a “confidence breach”.

Roscoe’s departure comes at a sensitive time for the UK diplomatic service, with further politically sensitive document releases expected relating to Mandelson’s tenure as ambassador to the US.

The development marks another setback for Britain’s overseas diplomatic mission in Washington.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov