Diplomatic row over status of EU’s ambassador to the UK

Senior UK politician Tobias Ellwood described the row as a “silly spat” and insisted the UK should be “better than this”.

Joao Vale de Almeida has not been given the same status as other ambassadors, with the UK Foreign Office declining to treat an international organisation in the same way as nation states. Picture: Stefan Rousseau/PA

UK Prime Minster Boris Johnson’s government has been accused of a “petty” approach after refusing to grant full diplomatic status to the European Union’s ambassador to the UK.

Joao Vale de Almeida has not been given the same status as other ambassadors, with the UK Foreign Office declining to treat an international organisation in the same way as nation states.