UK’s deputy US envoy leaves post ‘amid Iran war leak inquiry’

Britain’s vital diplomatic operation in Washington was plunged back into crisis today as the deputy ambassador abruptly left amid a leak inquiry.

James Roscoe – who had been tipped for the top job after Peter Mandelson was sacked – is believed to have been questioned after details of top-secret Government discussions about the Iran war emerged. 

A Spectator report in March included views of Cabinet ministers on whether to allow the US to use UK bases for strikes against the Tehran regime.  

No official explanation has been given for Mr Roscoe’s departure. He took on the role in July 2022 and stood in as acting ambassador after Mandelson went.

However, the permanent position went to Sir Christian Turner – who was embarrassed last month when a recording emerged of him admitting the ‘Special Relationship’ does not exist, and saying Keir Starmer might not be PM much longer. 

Mr Roscoe, 49, had been one of the names tipped to take over from Mr Mandelson, after stepping up to fulfil his duties last year.

The career civil servant was previously chief press officer at No10 under Tony Blair and Gordon Brown. 

The role was instead given to Sir Christian, but Mr Roscoe retained his position as deputy.

He played an important role in President Donald Trump’s state visit to the UK as well as the King’s recent visit to the US to mark the 250th anniversary of American independence.

Former deputy ambassador to the US James Roscoe pictured with his wife, actress and author Clemency Burton-Hill

Mr Roscoe alongside Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper at the British Ambassador’s residence in Washington

The Government has been carrying out a leak inquiry into the Spectator report of a National Security Council.

It said ministers were divided over whether to grant a US request to use bases for attacks on Iran.

Sir Keir was said to be in favour of giving permission, but there was opposition from Net Zero Secretary Ed ​Miliband and Chancellor Rachel Reeves.

Cabinet Secretary Antonia Romeo confirmed in March that a leak probe was under way, saying officials would ‘draw on the full range of powers at their disposal’.

Foreign Office sources told The Times that Mr Roscoe had been questioned as part of the inquiry.  

Mr Roscoe lives in Washington alongside his wife, actress and journalist Clemency Burton-Hill.

The pair met while Mr Roscoe was on assignment to the High Commission in Freetown, Sierra Leone, in 2006.

Burton-Hill is also a violinist who has presented the Proms and Breakfast on BBC Radio 3. She also became the BBC’s first head of music and arts.

Before moving to Washington, Mr Roscoe was the UK ambassador to the United Nations and previously served as communications chief to the late Queen.

He had also worked as chief press officer in Downing Street for prime ministers Tony Blair and Gordon Brown.

Mr Roscoe’s earlier diplomatic postings included the UN, Sierra Leone and Iraq.

In a brief statement, a Foreign Office spokesman said: ‘James Roscoe has left his post.’

During the King’s recent visit to Washington, Roscoe praised the monarch for helping to repair relations between the two nations.

He told CNN: ‘The King.. can draw out those things that really pull us together’.

He also paid tribute to the ‘incredible’ defence and economic partnerships that ‘bind the US and UK’.

However, the visit was marred after Sir Christian’s comments to visiting sixth-form pupils were leaked.

Sir Christian Turner, Britain’s ambassador to the US, smiles with the King at a garden party in Washington last month

Sir Christian was appointed as Britain’s ambassador to the US in December after Peter Mandelson was sacked over his links to paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein

The ambassador was dismissive of the so-called ‘Special Relationship’ between the UK and US, saying America’s only such connection is ‘probably Israel’.

In a recording of the remarks, shared with the Financial Times, the long-serving diplomat noted how the scandal had ‘brought down a senior member of the royal family [Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor], a British ambassador to Washington, potentially the Prime Minister, and yet here in the US, it really hasn’t touched anybody’.

He also suggested that Sir Keir could be ‘brought down’ by the row over his predecessor and pointed to the May elections as a potential breaking point.

Sir Christian’s remarks were said to have been made during a question-and-answer session with students on diplomacy and politics and were never intended as an on-the-record statement of Government policy.

Sir Keir later insisted that he would not sack the loose-lipped ambassador – saying he was the ‘least of my problems’.