JAMES Roscoe, the deputy to Britain’s ambassador in Washington, has abruptly left his post with no explanation.
Roscoe, 49, had stood in for Lord Peter Mandelson for several months after he was sacked last year.
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James Roscoe (left) once served as an aide to Gordon Brown Credit: AP
Roscoe had stood in for Lord Peter Mandelson for several months after he was sacked last year Credit: PA
Foreign Office officials declined to give any explanation for why Roscoe had, as they put it, “left his post”.
Staff at the British embassy in Washington were told of the move on Tuesday with no explanation.
Roscoe played a key role in Donald Trump’s state visit to the UK last September.
The former diplomat was also involved in King Charles’ recent state visit to the US for the 250th anniversary of American independence.
He previously served as the UK ambassador to the United Nations and had masterminded communications for the late Queen Elizabeth II.
Roscoe had also worked as chief press officer in Downing Street for prime ministers Tony Blair and Gordon Brown.
It is understood that the diplomat is now facing intense questioning as part of a high-stakes investigation into the leak of top-secret discussions from a meeting of the National Security Council, The Times reports.
Foreign Office sources have confirmed that senior embassy officials are among those interrogated in recent weeks over the security breach, according to the outlet.
The breach allegedly involved verbatim comments from UK cabinet ministers regarding the war in Iran.
In a brief statement, a Foreign Office spokesman said: “James Roscoe has left his post.”
