Britain’s ambassador to Washington has resigned after Donald Trump labelled him “stupid” and “wacky” following the release of confidential memos from the envoy in which he branded the US president’s administration inept.
“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,” Kim Darroch said in his resignation letter on Wednesday.
“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.”
Outgoing Prime Minister Theresa May said “it is a matter of great regret that (Sir Kim Darroch) has felt it necessary to leave his position” as UK ambassador to the US, saying it is important to “defend our values and principles, particularly when they are under pressure”.
Mrs May said diplomats must be able to give “full and frank advice” and she wants all public servants to have the confidence to do that.
Opposition Leader Jeremy Corbyn also defended Mr Darroch, saying Mr Trump’s comments about him were “beyond unfair and wrong”.
Theresa May says "it is a matter of great regret that (Sir Kim Darroch) has felt it necessary to leave his position" as UK ambassador to the US, saying it is important to "defend our values and principles, particularly when they are under pressure" https://t.co/aLysk7nWa2 #PMQs pic.twitter.com/q7dTXn8IFg
— BBC Politics (@BBCPolitics) July 10, 2019
In response to the leak, Mr Trump said he will no longer work with the British ambassador whose leaked memos described the US president as “inept” and “dysfunctional”.
Britain had expressed regret about the leaking of confidential memos from Mr Darroch, but not for the content.
Dating back to 2017, they offered frank assessments of Mr Darroch’s view of the White House, stating: “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”.
After an initially restrained response, Mr Trump has fired back on Twitter saying he “will no longer deal” with the British ambassador.
“I do not know the Ambassador, but he is not liked or well thought of within the U.S. We will no longer deal with him,” Mr Trump tweeted.
His Twitter post also criticised Mrs May about Brexit.
“What a mess she and her representatives have created. I told her how it should be done, but she decided to go another way,” he said.
“The good news for the wonderful United Kingdom is that they will soon have a new Prime Minister. While I thoroughly enjoyed the magnificent State Visit last month, it was the Queen who I was most impressed with!” he wrote.
-with AAP
The post Memo-gate victim: Britain’s ambassador to the US Kim Darroch resigns appeared first on The New Daily.
**Business and Marketing support on best price; Hit the link now----> http://bit.ly/2HsQmSi