UK Ambassador To US Kim Darroch Resigns After Leaked Mails Fiasco

Kim Darroch, the controversial British ambassador to the United States has resigned following the leaked cables fiasco where he called President Donald Trump’s administration “inept”, “clumsy” and “uniquely dysfunctional.”

The leaked cables published in a U.K. newspaper invited a furious reaction from President Trump and the U.S foreign office turning the whole issue into a diplomatic row.

Despite Britain’s Prime Minister Theresa May’s defense of the envoy and assertion that she had “full faith” in Darroch, the British ambassador finally decided to quit.

Trump’s furious reaction

In a caustic reaction, President Trump said the ambassador was not well thought of in the U.S. Later Trump reiterated that the U.S. “will no longer deal with him” and even called him a “very stupid guy” and “a pompous fool.”

“The wacky Ambassador that the U.K. foisted upon the United States is not someone we are thrilled with, a very stupid guy. He should speak to his country, and Prime Minister May, about their failed Brexit negotiation, and not be upset with my criticism of how badly it was,” fumed Trump.

Replying to Trump’s comments, U.K.’s Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt tweeted: “Friends speak frankly so I will: these comments are disrespectful and wrong to our prime minister and my country.”

Resignation statement of Darroch

In his resignation letter, addressed to Simon McDonald, the senior-most official at the Foreign Office, Darroch said the leaked cables row meant that he could not continue.

In the statement, Darroch said he wanted to end all speculation over his continuance as an ambassador: “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.”

Special relation jolted

The leaks demolished the myth of Britain’s “special relationship” with the U.S. But Darroch sought to give a diplomatic twist to the U.S reaction and said he received good support from both the U.S. and U.K. in recent days and “brought home to me the depth of friendship and close ties between our two countries.”

While demands are up to launch a probe into the leak of confidential diplomatic cables, Darroch without any rancor praised the “professionalism and integrity of the British civil service” and called it was “the envy of the world.”

In the cables, Darroch had warned the U.K government that Trump's “career could end in disgrace.”

Boris Johnson’s ambivalence was one reason

Meanwhile, The Guardian reported that Darroch decided to quit after he assessed that his position was untenable after watching the Conservative leadership debate on TV where the frontrunner Boris Johnson was not seen backing him.

In his reply to the envoy, McDonald praised Darroch’s contribution and called him the target of “a malicious leak.”

Acknowledging the gratitude to his work, McDonald said. “You are the best of us.”