MI6 chief rules himself out of US ambassador post as Mandelson scandal unsettles Britain’s Washington plans

LONDON — The outgoing head of MI6 has ruled himself out of taking Britain’s next ambassador to the United States, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter. Sir Richard Moore, who has led the Secret Intelligence Service for five years, was widely viewed as a frontrunner to succeed Peter Mandelson after the former Labour minister was dismissed over links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. But Moore has indicated he is not interested in the Washington posting, even as the government weighs its options for what is arguably Britain’s most important diplomatic role.

Sir Richard Moore joined MI6 in 1987 and later served as British ambassador to Turkey and as Director General for Political Affairs in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office before returning to lead the agency in 2020. It is understood he has not been formally approached by anyone in the Foreign Office about the job, but privately associates say Moore is not pursuing the position. One source said: “People familiar with the situation say he is not looking to do it.”

The developments unfold as Mandelson faced severest consequences of a scandal surrounding his email communications with Epstein. The former US ambassador, who was appointed by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, was dismissed days before President Trump’s state visit to the UK after it emerged that he corresponded with Epstein as late as 2008. Leaked emails suggested Mandelson even questioned Epstein’s conviction for soliciting a minor sexual act. Downing Street has said the Prime Minister was not aware of the emails when appointing Mandelson to the post.

Richard Moore’s farewell in Istanbul, where he delivered remarks focused on Vladimir Putin’s approach to Ukraine, has added to the sense that a transitional period is underway for Britain’s Washington representation. In his remarks, Moore reflected on a long career in public service and the duties of leading MI6, saying: “After almost four decades in public service, I am now hanging up my cloak, returning my imaginary dagger to its scabbard and handing over my famous green pen. Interim ambassador James Roscoe… ‘Running MI6 has been the privilege of my life.’” He added that he would take time to “pause, take stock and reflect on what an extraordinary personal journey it has been,” invoking George Smiley’s line about moments too large to be lived at the time they occur.

Since Mandelson’s dismissal, James Roscoe, who has served as head of mission at the embassy in Washington, has been appointed interim ambassador. Roscoe, a former British ambassador to the United Nations General Assembly, is himself believed to be in the running for the permanent post. Other names floated in Whitehall and Westminster circles include former foreign secretary David Miliband, former Cabinet Secretary Lord Mark Sedwill, and former chancellor George Osborne, reflecting the breadth of options facing the government as it shadows the delicate diplomacy surrounding Washington’s representation.

The United States remains Britain’s single most important diplomatic arena, and the choice of ambassador is seen as a signal of how London plans to handle both transatlantic relations and the broader alliance framework. Officials caution that no formal shortlist has been announced, and timelines for a permanent appointment have not been disclosed. The current arrangement, with Roscoe as interim, will continue until a successor is confirmed and approved by both governments. In the meantime, the latest disclosures about Mandelson’s emails have reignited questions about vetting processes and the boundaries of diplomatic appointments, underscoring the sensitivity of the post and the scrutiny that accompanies it.