Advertisement

Kim Darroch resigns: Boris Johnson blamed for UK ambassador quitting over row with Donald Trump

Boris Johnson has been accused of throwing the UK’s top diplomat in the US under the bus after Sir Kim Darroch quit over a row with Donald Trump.

The UK’s ambassador to the US stepped down the day after he was calledwacky” and a “very stupid guy” by the US President.

Mr Trump had lashed out after it emerged Sir Kim had branded him “inept” in leaked confidential memos.

The fallout has engulfed the Tory leadership race, with Mr Johnson refusing to back Darroch during a television debate with his leadership rival Jeremy Hunt on Tuesday night.

Mr Johnson is now being blamed for forcing Sir Kim out of his job by deciding to put his support behind Mr Trump.

Foreign Office minister Sir Alan Duncan said Mr Johnson has “basically thrown our top diplomat under the bus”.

According to the BBC, the final straw for Sir Kim came when Mr Johnson refused to support him.

Mr Johnson said in response to Sir Kim’s resignation on Wednesday: “My view is it's wrong to drag civil servants into the political arena."

Donald Trump in the Oval Office on Tuesday. (Getty Images)
Donald Trump in the Oval Office on Tuesday. (Getty Images)

Announcing his resignation in a letter, Sir Kim wrote: “There has been a great deal of speculation surrounding my position and the duration of my remaining term as ambassador. I want to put an end to that speculation.

“The current situation is making it impossible for me to carry out my role as I would like.

“Although my posting is not due to end until the end of this year, I believe in the current circumstances the responsible course is to allow the appointment of a new ambassador.”

Boris under fire

The departure comes after Mr Johnson was asked in a television debate whether Sir Kim would retain his job under his government. He said it was not “necessarily” the right thing for Trump to have said, but added: “Let’s face it, our relationship with the U.S. is of fantastic importance.”

Sir Alan Duncan, who worked with Mr Johnson in the Foreign Office, has laid into his former boss. He told the BBC: "I'm upset and angry. “There are a lot of people here in the Commons who are very, very angry and feel he has lost so much respect for having done what he's done.

Boris Johnson refused to back Sir Kim during his debate with Jeremy Hunt. (Photo by Matt Frost/ITV via Getty Images)
Boris Johnson refused to back Sir Kim during his debate with Jeremy Hunt. (Photo by Matt Frost/ITV via Getty Images)

"His sort of disregard for Sir Kim Darroch and his refusal to back him was, in my view, pretty contemptible, but also not in the interests of the country he's trying to lead."

“For someone who wants to lead, that was contemptible negligence on his part and he’s basically thrown this diplomat under the bus to serve his own personal interests”.

Labour deputy leader Tom Watson said: “This is a personal tragedy for Kim Darroch. It is the inevitable result of a leak organised by dark forces who do down our country, and Boris Johnson’s failure to stand up for our sovereignty. Always personal ambition before country with Johnson.”

Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon tweeted: “It is shameful that Kim Darroch has effectively been forced out for doing the job that diplomats are appointed to do. Boris Johnson’s failure last night to stand up for him – and stand up to the behaviour of Donald Trump – spoke volumes.”

Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage has described the resignation of Sir Kim Darroch from the position of UK ambassador to Washington as “The right decision.”

He tweeted: “Time (to) put in a non-Remainer who wants a trade deal with America.”

A ‘very stupid guy’

In his secret memos dating from 2017 to the present, Darroch had said reports of in-fighting in the White House were “mostly true” and last month described confusion within the administration over Trump’s decision to call off a military strike on Iran.

“We don’t really believe this Administration is going to become substantially more normal; less dysfunctional; less unpredictable; less faction riven; less diplomatically clumsy and inept,” Darroch wrote in one cable.

The comments sparked an immediate backlash from the President, who lashed out at “foolish” Theresa May and her “wacky” Washington ambassador on Tuesday.

“The wacky Ambassador that the UK foisted upon the United States is not someone we are thrilled with, a very stupid guy,” Trump wrote, describing Darroch as a “pompous fool”.

Mrs May has said she has told Sir Kim that it is a “matter of great regret” that he has felt it necessary to resign as the UK ambassador to Washington.

Jeremy Corbyn said he “regretted” the resignation.

British officials have launched an inquiry to find out who was responsible for the leak.

---Watch the latest videos from Yahoo UK---