UK's second-most senior diplomat in Washington leaves post abruptly
Details and Context of James Roscoe's Departure
Official Statement and Immediate Circumstances
May 20 (Reuters) - Britain's second-most senior diplomat in Washington, James Roscoe, has left his post abruptly without any public explanation for his departure.
The UK's foreign ministry issued a short six-word statement: "James Roscoe has left his post".
Speculation and Media Reports
According to The Times newspaper, Roscoe was facing questions about how details of a top-secret national security meeting to discuss a U.S. request to use British military bases at the start of the Iran war were leaked to a journalist.
He could not immediately be reached for comment.
Recent Diplomatic Challenges for Britain
His departure is the latest diplomatic challenge Britain has faced in its dealings with the United States in recent months.
Ambassadorial Changes and Controversies
In September, the then ambassador, Peter Mandelson, was fired after it emerged that his links to the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein were more extensive than had previously been known.
Christian Turner's Appointment and Leaked Comments
His successor Christian Turner, who took up the job in February, was embarrassed last month when he said in leaked comments that it was "extraordinary" that the U.S. political system had failed to hold "very senior people" to account who were friends with Epstein.
Turner also said that the United States' only "special relationship" was "probably Israel", not Britain.
Political Tensions Between the US and UK
Roscoe's departure also comes at a time when there have been public disagreements between U.S. President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer over the Iran war.
James Roscoe's Career Background
Roscoe was appointed to the role in July 2022. Between September 2025 and February 2026, he served as Chargé d’Affaires to the United States after Mandelson was sacked as ambassador.
Before moving to Washington, Roscoe was Britain’s ambassador to the United Nations General Assembly and he had previously worked as a communications secretary to the late Queen Elizabeth, Britain's longest-reigning monarch.
(Reporting by Carlos Méndez in Mexico City, Rishabh Jaiswal in Bengaluru and Andrew MacAskill in London; Editing by Himani Sarkar, Aidan Lewis)
