Theresa May will choose next US ambassador before she leaves office, insists Jeremy Hunt

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JEREMY Hunt insisted that Theresa May will choose Britain’s next US ambassador before leaving No.10.

In a swipe at Boris Johnson, the favourite to replace her, he said the key decision won’t be made by anyone “shouting from the sidelines”.

Allies of Boris Johnson have told Mrs May not to 'tie the hands' of her successor — Allies of Boris Johnson have told Mrs May not to ‘tie the hands’ of her successorCredit: PA:Press Association

The comments by the Foreign Secretary, who traditionally gets to advise the PM on who should be our man in Washington, will put pressure on Mrs

May to replace Sir Kim Darroch before she leaves.

Sir Kim resigned over the leaking of diplomatic cables in which he called US President Donald Trump “inept”.

Mr Hunt told ITV News it was a dark day that left diplomats “angry”.

Asked who should replace the top envoy, he said: “That’s a decision for the Prime Minister alone. It’s not for people shouting from the sidelines to tell her what to do. I obviously want to get a replacement as quickly as possible.”

His comments came after Mr Johnson’s allies warned Mrs May not to “tie the hands” of her successor. Tory MP Liz Truss said the PM had too little time to choose before leaving office as the Foreign Office had indicated it would take “months rather than weeks”. A Downing Street spokesman said: “We have no timeline.”

Mr Johnson has been accused of failing to defend Sir Kim, contributing to the envoy’s decision to stand down.

Labour MP Pat McFadden said he had thrown him “to the wolves”. Mr Johnson denied the claims and said the leaker should be “hunted down and prosecuted”.

He told a Tory leadership hustings in Maidstone, Kent: “I will stand up for our fantastic diplomats across the world.”