This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/jul/10/kim-darroch-resigns-as-uk-ambassador-to-us-after-leaked-trump-comment

The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 4 Version 5
Kim Darroch quits as UK ambassador to US 'after Johnson remarks' Kim Darroch quits as UK ambassador to US 'after Johnson remarks'
(about 2 hours later)
Sir Kim Darroch, the UK ambassador to Washington who has been at the centre of a diplomatic row over leaked cables criticising Donald Trump, has resigned.Sir Kim Darroch, the UK ambassador to Washington who has been at the centre of a diplomatic row over leaked cables criticising Donald Trump, has resigned.
The Guardian understands he concluded his position was untenable after watching the Conservative leadership debate on Tuesday, in which the frontrunner, Boris Johnson, stopped short of backing him. The Guardian understands he concluded his position was untenable having watched the Conservative leadership debate on Tuesday, in which the frontrunner, Boris Johnson, stopped short of backing him over the leak.
In a letter to Simon McDonald, the most senior official at the Foreign Office, Darroch said the row, in which Trump called the ambassador “a pompous fool” and “very stupid”, meant he could not continue. Darroch’s decision brought the immediate crisis to an end – but sparked a new round of political recrimination in the UK, as well as demands for answers on the identity of the leaker and fears that the transatlantic diplomatic calculus could have permanently shifted.
After the ambassador submitted his resignation, explaining that he felt that speculation over his future was “making it impossible for me to carry out my role as I would like”, Johnson faced sharp criticism over his role in the affair, with one minister accusing him of throwing the ambassador “under the bus”.
And in language that will be viewed as an implicit criticism of Johnson’s failure to back Darroch, Theresa May told MPs: “I hope the house will reflect on the importance of defending our values and principles, particularly when they are under pressure.”
But even as Darroch stepped down, the tremors caused by the leak continued to reverberate, with Sir Simon McDonald, the permanent under-secretary at the Foreign Office, telling the foreign affairs select committee that he had been forced to call an all-staff meeting to reassure concerned diplomats and warning that he feared more leaks would follow.
“People are shaken by what has happened and there is a reason why I have asked to see all my colleagues,” he said. “The basis on which we have worked all our careers suddenly feels challenged.”
McDonald, the head of the Diplomatic Service, said that police were now involved in the inquiry, and added that attention would be focused on recipients of highly sensitive emails that were in some cases sent to as few as five or 10 people.
Describing the episode as a personal tragedy for Darroch, he told MPs: “We will pursue the culprit with all the means at our disposal. The leaker is guilty of the worst breach of trust in our service in my career.”
Asked whether in an episode such as this it would be expected that the entire establishment would support Darrock, he said: “Yes”, adding the Foreign Office had noted with gratitude the support given to Darroch by the prime minister and the foreign secretary. He made no mention of Boris Johnson.
The drama that resulted in Darroch’s resignation had begun at the weekend with the leak of a series of confidential memos in which the ambassador said that Trump’s administration was seen as “incompetent”, “inept” and “insecure”.
In a letter to McDonald, the most senior official at the Foreign Office, Darroch said the ensuing row, in which Trump called the ambassador “a pompous fool” and “very stupid”, meant he could not continue.
Kim Darroch: effectively sacked by Johnson on the orders of TrumpKim Darroch: effectively sacked by Johnson on the orders of Trump
“Since the leak of official documents from this embassy, there has been a great deal of speculation surrounding my position and the duration of my remaining term as ambassador,” he wrote. “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.”“Since the leak of official documents from this embassy, there has been a great deal of speculation surrounding my position and the duration of my remaining term as ambassador,” he wrote. “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.”
Replying to the letter, McDonald said Darroch had been the target of “a malicious leak” and expressed gratitude for his work. “You are the best of us,” McDonald said. Replying to the letter, McDonald said Darroch had been the target of “a malicious leak” and expressed gratitude for his work. “You are the best of us,” he wrote.
The announcement came immediately before prime minister’s questions. No 10 said Theresa May had spoken to Darroch directly for about five minutes at about 11.30am. By this time, he had already spoken to McDonald.The announcement came immediately before prime minister’s questions. No 10 said Theresa May had spoken to Darroch directly for about five minutes at about 11.30am. By this time, he had already spoken to McDonald.
May told the House of Commons she had told Darroch it was “a matter of great regret that he has felt it necessary to leave his position”.May told the House of Commons she had told Darroch it was “a matter of great regret that he has felt it necessary to leave his position”.
She added: “Sir Kim has given a lifetime of service to the United Kingdom and we owe him an enormous debt of gratitude. Good government depends on public servants being able to give full and frank advice. I want all our public servants to have the confidence to be able to do that.”She added: “Sir Kim has given a lifetime of service to the United Kingdom and we owe him an enormous debt of gratitude. Good government depends on public servants being able to give full and frank advice. I want all our public servants to have the confidence to be able to do that.”
In language that will be viewed as an implicit criticism of Johnson’s failure to back Darroch, May said: “I hope the house will reflect on the importance of defending our values and principles, particularly when they are under pressure.”
Jeremy Corbyn called the treatment of Darroch “beyond unfair and wrong” and said he had given “honourable and good service”.Jeremy Corbyn called the treatment of Darroch “beyond unfair and wrong” and said he had given “honourable and good service”.
The Labour leader added: “The whole house should join together in deeply regretting the feeling he’s got that he must resign at this moment.” The criticism of Johnson was based on his choice of language in Tuesday night’s Conservative leadership debate, in which he refused to give Darroch his support even as his rival, Jeremy Hunt, said he would expect the ambassador to stay in post until his planned retirement.
Darroch’s decision will put pressure on Johnson, who was criticised by some Conservatives after the leadership debate for refusing to give Darroch his support even as his rival, Jeremy Hunt, said he would expect the ambassador to stay in post until his planned retirement.
When pressed on the point, Johnson gave only mild criticism of Trump and said a good relationship with the US was “of fantastic importance”.When pressed on the point, Johnson gave only mild criticism of Trump and said a good relationship with the US was “of fantastic importance”.
Sir Alan Duncan, a Foreign Office minister, said Johnson had thrown Darroch “under the bus to serve his own personal interests” and accused him of “contemptible negligence”.Sir Alan Duncan, a Foreign Office minister, said Johnson had thrown Darroch “under the bus to serve his own personal interests” and accused him of “contemptible negligence”.
Duncan told the BBC: “I’m upset and angry. And 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. His 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.”Duncan told the BBC: “I’m upset and angry. And 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. His 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.”
There is now speculation about when the new ambassador will be appointed, particularly whether the decision will be made before May leaves office in just over two weeks. Her spokesman said only that the choice would be made “in due course”.There is now speculation about when the new ambassador will be appointed, particularly whether the decision will be made before May leaves office in just over two weeks. Her spokesman said only that the choice would be made “in due course”.
Hunt, the foreign secretary, said in a statement on Wednesday that he was “deeply saddened” by the outcome, adding: “Whenever I visited Washington as foreign secretary, I was struck by Sir Kim’s professionalism and intellect. I am outraged that a selection of his reports should have been leaked.”Hunt, the foreign secretary, said in a statement on Wednesday that he was “deeply saddened” by the outcome, adding: “Whenever I visited Washington as foreign secretary, I was struck by Sir Kim’s professionalism and intellect. I am outraged that a selection of his reports should have been leaked.”
In the confidential memos, leaked to a newspaper at the weekend, Darroch said Trump’s administration was seen as “incompetent”, “inept” and “insecure”. At the foreign affairs committee hearing, McDonald said that there had been a great deal of soul-searching about the leak and added that he knew of no precedent where a friendly power had refused to cooperate with a serving British ambassador.
Such robust assessments are routine in secure diplomatic communications, but Trump responded with fury in a series of tweets. “This is not the first time a British ambassador has left post or resigned because of actions against the host government,” he said. But usually they are governments with whom we have problematic relations rather than friendly relations.”
A day after Trump said he would no longer deal with Darroch, he used his Twitter feed to attack the diplomat, saying: “The wacky ambassador that the UK foisted upon the United States is not someone we are thrilled with, a very stupid guy.” Asked what the impact will be for transatlantic relations he said: “It is too soon to have a complete or authoritative judgment. Nothing like this has ever happened. There must be consequences.” He later insisted the special relationship was so deep and so wide that it could survive any individual squall.
The controversy escalated further as Hunt responded by calling the president’s language “disrespectful and wrong”. While Trump himself did not immediately react to the news on Wednesday, Lindsey Graham, an ally of the president, sought to shift blame for his departure towards the media. “Kim Darroch did an outstanding job as ambassador and sorry to see he has resigned his post. He got a raw deal from press,” he tweeted.
In his letter to McDonald, Darroch wrote: “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. Sally Quinn, a Washington socialite who regularly attended Darroch’s parties at the British embassy, said his resignation set the stage for “a very big change in the way diplomacy is conducted”.
“I am grateful to all those in the UK and the US who have offered their support during this difficult few days. This has brought home to me the depth of friendship and close ties between our two countries. I have been deeply touched. “Up until this, I think diplomats were able to communicate to their governments and they were honest and provided valuable information,” Quinn, a former journalist, said. “Clearly, we can’t do that any more.”
“I am also grateful to all those with whom I have worked over the last four decades, particularly my team here in the US. The professionalism and integrity of the British civil service is the envy of the world. I will leave it full of confidence that its values remain in safe hands.”
McDonald wrote that he accepted the resignation “with deep personal regret”.
He added: “Over the last few difficult days, you have behaved as you have always behaved over a long and distinguished career – with dignity, professionalism and class. The prime minister, foreign secretary and whole of the public service have stood with you: you were the target of a malicious leak; you were simply doing your job.
“I understand your wish to relieve the pressure on your family and your colleagues at the embassy; I admire the fact that you think more of others than yourself. You demonstrate the essence of the values of British public service.”
Foreign policyForeign policy
Conservative leadershipConservative leadership
ConservativesConservatives
Civil serviceCivil service
Boris JohnsonBoris Johnson
Donald TrumpDonald Trump
Trump administrationTrump administration
newsnews
Share on FacebookShare on Facebook
Share on TwitterShare on Twitter
Share via EmailShare via Email
Share on LinkedInShare on LinkedIn
Share on PinterestShare on Pinterest
Share on WhatsAppShare on WhatsApp
Share on MessengerShare on Messenger
Reuse this contentReuse this content