Britain’s ambassador to Nato has triggered a row after reportedly moving his much younger Italian girlfriend into his official residence in Brussels.
He previously had his security clearance suspended after leaving top secret documents at a bus stop in Kent while on secondment to the Ministry of Defence in June 2021.
Britain's incoming ambassador to the EU, has suggested it was “inappropriate” for the intern to live with Mr Lapsley at the official residence, according to The Times.
The diplomatic townhouse also houses Anne Sherriff, the British ambassador to Belgium and Dame Caroline Wilson, a former lawyer, is also expected to move into the residence when she takes up her post later this year.
The relationship has been deemed so significant that Adml Sir Keith Blount, Nato’s Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe and the most senior British officer in the alliance, has reportedly been alerted.
Mr Lapsley pulled out of a briefing scheduled for Wednesday at Nato headquarters as the Foreign Office prepared for details of the relationship to be made public.
Britain’s NATO envoy moves girlfriend half his age into official residence