James Roscoe, the deputy head of the British Embassy in the United States, has been dismissed.
According to The Times, the removal of the second-highest-ranking British diplomat in Washington is linked to an investigation into a leak of classified information discussed at a National Security Council meeting.
The article notes that the leak led to media reports of British ministers' statements regarding war with Iran in recent weeks.
The diplomat's resignation was unexpected. Embassy staff were informed via email on May 19, but no reason was given for the decision.
Roscoe had been acting head of the diplomatic mission for five months after the dismissal of Ambassador Peter Mandelson in September 2025. Mandelson had been linked to financier Jeffrey Epstein, who was accused of pedophilia. Roscoe played an active role in organizing US President Donald Trump's visit to the UK and King Charles III's state visit in April 2026.
Although Roscoe was considered for the ambassador position, professional diplomat Christian Turner was appointed in December 2025.
