20 May 2026 , 11:46
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Britain’s second most senior diplomat in Washington, who served as interim ambassador after Peter Mandelson was dismissed, has suddenly left his position.
The UK government did not provide a reason for James Roscoe’s abrupt departure, which occurs 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 position.”
Roscoe had been serving as deputy head of mission at the British embassy since 2022 and was among those considered for the ambassadorial role following Mandelson’s removal. However, the position ultimately went to another career diplomat, Christian Turner.
Senior officials at the embassy are reported to have been among those questioned in an investigation after reports this year of cabinet divisions at a national security council meeting concerning the use of British bases by the US for strikes against Iran.
These discussions are protected by the Official Secrets Act, and a leak from the national security council is regarded as a serious breach. In 2019, Theresa May dismissed the then defense secretary, Gavin Williamson, over a leak.
David Lammy, the justice secretary, initiated an investigation into the apparent leak of the discussions this year. The Spectator reported that Keir Starmer proposed allowing the US to use the bases for defensive strikes against Iranian targets at the meeting, but faced opposition from Ed Miliband, Rachel Reeves, Yvette Cooper, and Shabana Mahmood. The report was later covered by several other media outlets.
As chargé d’affaires to the US, Roscoe played a key role during Donald Trump’s state visit to the UK in September 2025. More recently, as the second-in-command at the embassy, he was involved in King Charles’s state visit to the US to celebrate the 250th anniversary of American independence.
Before his time in Washington, Roscoe was the UK ambassador to the UN, and he previously served as communications chief to Queen Elizabeth II from 2013 to 2016.
He also held the position of chief press officer at Downing Street for prime ministers Tony Blair and Gordon Brown. Roscoe’s earlier diplomatic assignments included postings in Sierra Leone and Iraq.
Roscoe was reported to have seen himself as being on the operational side of “cleaning up the mess” regarding relations with the White House rather than acting as a figurehead for UK relations.
Politics Editor