Exclusive: major ambassador reshuffle

Exclusive details of the government's impending first major reshuffle of senior diplomatic posts since David Cameron became prime minister can be revealed for the first time on Prospect's website today.

The planned changes, which are set to be announced in piecemeal fashion over the coming weeks, have been outlined to Prospect by Whitehall sources. They involve job swaps including Washington, Paris and New Delhi and make up a radical overhaul of appointments made in 2007, the year Gordon Brown became prime minister.



Brown's choice as Britain's ambassador to the US, Sir Nigel Sheinwald, is to be brought back from Washington, according to sources. Sir Nigel found himself at the centre of controversy in 2008 when a leaked memo revealed that he had referred to President Barack Obama as uninspiring in debates and with little track record to refer back to. Sir Nigel wrote of Obama that "the main impression is of someone who was finding his feet, and then got diverted by his presidential ambitions." However, there is no suggestion that he is leaving Washington because of that controversy. He has been in the post since 2007.

There are plans to replace him with by Sir Peter Westmacott, also appointed in 2007 as ambassador in Paris, having served in Turkey as ambassador since 2002. Whitehall sources say that the prime minister has been impressed at Sir Peter's ability to cement a relationship between Britain and President Sarkozy of France.

In turn, the plum Paris posting is set to be taken up by Sir Peter Ricketts, Cameron's national security adviser. Last year it was announced that Sir Peter would stand down after a limited period. Sources say that Sir Peter will be replaced as Cameron's national security adviser by Sir Richard Stagg, who has served as high commissioner to India since 2007. The new high commissioner in New Delhi is set to be the former Whitehall-based, career civil servant James Bevan, who has served as director of change and delivery at the foreign office. An FCO source said that officials are impressed that Cameron has resisted the temptation to insert a political appointment to the important post in New Delhi.

Diplomatic musical chairs: the planned changes

Washington Out: Sir Nigel Sheinwald In: Sir Peter Westmacott

Paris Out: Sir Peter Westmacott In: Sir Peter Ricketts

New Delhi: Out: Sir Richard Stagg In: James Bevan

National security adviser: Out: Sir Peter Ricketts In: Sir Richard Stagg