The outgoing head of MI6 has ruled himself out for the role of Britain’s next ambassador to America, the Mail can reveal.
Sir Richard Moore was tipped as a favourite to take on the role after Peter Mandelson was sacked by Sir Keir Starmer over his links to paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
But the spymaster, whose five-year tenure as the Director-General of the Secret Intelligence Service comes to an end this week, is not interested in the role, sources have revealed.
Sir Richard had been considered a frontrunner due to his years of experience at MI6, the Foreign Office and as a former ambassador.
Sir Richard Moore, Chief of the Secret Intelligence Service speaking at the British Consulate General in Istanbul
He first joined MI6 in 1987, later serving as British Ambassador to Turkey and Director General for Political Affairs in the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office before returning to the Secret Intelligence Service as C in 2020.
It is understood that Sir Richard has yet to be formally approached by anyone in the Foreign Office about the job, but privately he has made it clear that he does not wish to take up the opportunity.
One source said: ‘People familiar with the situation say he is not looking to do it.’
Lord Mandelson was sensationally sacked days before President Trump’s state visit to the UK last week after it emerged that he was in email contact with convicted child sex offender Epstein as late as 2008.
Former US ambassador Lord Peter Mandelson
The leaked emails show that the former New Labour minister even suggested Epstein’s conviction for soliciting a child for prostitution was wrongful and should be challenged.
Downing Street later said the Prime Minister was not aware of the emails when appointing Lord Mandelson as ambassador.
Sir Richard, 62, made no mention of what he will do after leaving MI6 during his farewell speech in Istanbul on Friday.
His speech focused on Vladimir Putin, who he said was ‘stringing us along’ on Ukraine as the Russian leader has no interest in seeking an end to the war.
He said: ‘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.’
Sir Richard added that he wanted some time to ‘take stock and reflect’ after five very busy years at the helm of the UK’s foreign intelligence service, saying: ‘As I step into the next chapter, I have the chance to pause, to take stock and to reflect on what an extraordinary personal journey it has been.
‘It was George Smiley, John le Carré’s legendary spymaster, who said: “There are moments which are made up of too much stuff for them to be lived at the time they occur.”
‘I look forward to reflecting back on all that stuff.’
Since Lord Mandelson’s dismissal, James Roscoe, who was head of mission at the embassy in Washington, has been appointed as interim ambassador.
Mr Roscoe, a former British ambassador to the UN General Assembly, is himself believed to be in the running to become the next ambassador.
Other names that have been suggested for what is arguably Britain’s most important diplomatic position are David Miliband, the former Labour foreign secretary, former Cabinet Secretary Lord Mark Sedwill and even ex-Tory chancellor George Osborne.
