Britain’s second most senior diplomat in Washington abruptly leaves post

Key points

• Britain’s second most senior diplomat in Washington, who stood in as interim ambassador after the sacking of Peter Mandelson, has abruptly left his post.
• The UK government gave no reason for James Roscoe’s sudden departure which comes amid an investigation into the leak of discussions at a meeting of the UK’s national security council.
• A Foreign Office spokesperson said: “James Roscoe has left his post.” No further explanation was given for the departure of Roscoe, who had served as deputy head of mission at the British embassy since 2022. Roscoe was among those tipped for the ambassadorial job after the removal of Mandelson over his links to the convicted child sex offender and financier Jeffrey Epstein.
• The posting ultimately went to another career diplomat, Christian Turner.
• Senior officials at the embassy are said to have been among those questioned as part of an investigation after reports this year of cabinet...