Sir Kim Darroch resigns as UK ambassador to US amid Trump memo row

Britain’s ambassador to Washington quit today after the leak of diplomatic cables he had written which were damning about Donald Trump’s administration.

Sir Kim Darroch said the storm over the unauthorised disclosures had made it “impossible for me to carry out my role as I would like”.

The leak sparked an extraordinary trans-Atlantic row with Mr Trump launching Twitter attacks on Sir Kim and escalating them into criticism of Theresa May.

His resignation was announced just minutes before Prime Minister’s Questions.

“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,” Sir Kim wrote in a letter to Sir Simon McDonald, Permanent Under Secretary at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office,

“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.”

He continued: “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. 

“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.”

He also stressed:  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.”

Theresa May told the Commons that it was a matter of “great regret” that the ambassador had decided he had to quit.

“Sir Kim has given a lifetime of service to the UK and and we owe him an enormous debt of gratitude,” she said.

Speaking after Mrs May at Prime Minister’s Questions, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said: “I too regret the resignation of Sir Kim Darroch.

“I think the comments made about him were beyond unfair and wrong. I think he has given honourable and good service and he should be thanked for it.

“The whole House should join together in deeply regretting the feeling he has obviously got that he must resign at this moment.”

A full-scale investigation has been launched after the unauthorised disclosures of the diplomatic cables which caused a devastating rupture in relations between the White House and 10 Downing Street.  

They disclosed the candid private comments by Sir Kim that the Trump administration was “inept” and “dysfunctional”.

An annoyed President Trump lashed out at Sir Kim as a “pompous fool” and “wacky” in the wake of the leak and also attacked Mrs May as “foolish” over Brexit.  The ambassador was “uninvited” to a treasury department dinner on Monday night.

A mole who leaked the memos sparking the diplomatic clash is suspected by insiders of being a “current Government employee”, the Standard can reveal.

Clues point to an official still in post in Whitehall who “has the ability to retrieve past documents”, according to a well-placed source. 

More than 100 civil servants are believed to have had access to the leaked cables.

An insider said the theory that a disgruntled former official or minister carried out the leak is currently considered unlikely, given that three of the leaked documents were written just a few weeks ago.

However, the probe is in its infancy and other theories are not being ruled out, including a hostile State seeking to sour Anglo-US ties.

Sir Simon accepted Sir Kim’s resignation with “deep personal regret” and emphasised that he had been the victim of a “malicious leak”.

Responding to his letter, he said: “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.”

He added: ““I want to stress my deep appreciation for all you have done over the last four decades.  In a series of demanding roles – including National Security Adviser and Permanent Representative to the European Union – you have loyally served the government of the day without fear or favour.   We have been lucky to have you as a friend and colleague.   You are the best of us.”