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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Politics
Rowena Mason and Patrick Wintour

No 10 chief of staff accompanied Libyan militiaman to Foreign Office meeting

Mark Fullbrook
Mark Fullbrook is reported to have made efforts to court Liz Truss, then foreign secretary, on behalf of Fathi Bashagha. Photograph: Dominic Lipinski/PA

Mark Fullbrook, the No 10 chief of staff, accompanied a controversial Libyan politician involved in an attempted military coup to a meeting in the Foreign Office to lobby officials on foreign policy, it has emerged, raising further questions over his influence.

Labour has said Fullbrook’s position as Liz Truss’s most senior official is “untenable” after it was revealed that he facilitated unofficial meetings in June with senior cabinet ministers for Fathi Bashagha, a Libyan politician. Bashagha, who is seeking international support as a rival prime minister, has links to the Russian Wagner Group and a military strongman in the east of the country.

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