In a complete break from the manner in which members of the British diplomatic service conduct themselves, Gore-Booth has spoken out in his own defence. He told the Times newspaper: ``Somebody out there is taking pleasure from seeking to destroy my reputation slice by slice''.

Gore-Booth's comments followed an earlier Times news story identifying him as the civil servant recently criticised by the parliamentary ombudsman.

The ombudsman's report followed an investigation into an allegation that Gore-Booth complained to British Aerospace about an employee, Paul Surtees, who lost his job. Following an enquiry, Surtees received œ 5000 in compensation and an apology fromBooth. The ombudsman did not name Gore-Booth as the civilservant in question. However, the FO and the Foreign Secretary Robin Cook did not deny that the reference was to him.

Gore-Booth's `somebody' is being interpreted as a `veiled attack on Labour ministers', with whom he has had a stormy relationship. Educated at Eton, he is a diplomat of the old school who followed his father into the service. His style of functioning was seen as being at odds with the image of Britain that the new Labour government wanted to project.

When Blair's spokesperson Alastair Campbell referred to `plummy-voiced old Etonian Ambassadors' and asked whether they could really reflect the image of modern Britain abroad he is thought to have been referring to Gore-Booth.

Gore-Booth, who called Indian diplomats `incompetent bunglers' has a reputation for arrogance. It was this arrogance which was blamed for the highly publicised rows between the British Foreign Office and the Indian Ministry of External affairs, during the Queen's visit. At that time, Robin Cook defended his HighCommissioner.

However, Gore-Booth's early retirement from the diplomatic service is said to be because of a breakdown in relations between him and the Foreign Secretary and his failure to get a promotion within the service. His appointment to New Delhi at the age of 52 was an indication of his success within the service. In the normal course he could have accepted an `upward move' after Delhi.

India was not the only posting in which his actions were seen as controversial. Gore-Booth famously declared that `half a picture can be accurate', during the long investigation into British arms sales to Iraq. He was criticised in that probe for protecting Conservative Party ministers who lied to parliament about companies flouting the government imposed embargo on arms sales to Iraq.

Gore-Booth is set to take up a job in the private sector after his retirement. This, he said was preferable to being `..sent out to Ruritania to see out the next four or five years in a sea of gin.'