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The U.K.’s ambassador to the U.S.,Kim Darroch, said Wednesday he would resign following the publication of some of his diplomatic cables in which he spoke negatively about PresidentDonald Trump.
“The current situation is making it impossible for me to carry out my role as I would like,” Darroch, who has been the ambassador to America since 2016,wrote in a letterannouncing he was stepping down.
“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,” wrote Darroch, 65.
In reply, Simon McDonald, the permanent under secretary at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, wrote: “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. … [Y]ou were the target of a malicious leak; you were simply doing your job.”
The ambassador’s office did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
A government spokesman told theDaily Mail: “We pay [ambassadors] to be candid. … It’s important that our Ambassadors can offer their advice and for it remain confidential.”
Elsewhere in the published memos, Darroch described various ways the U.K. government could better work with the president and offered his view on Trump’s policies, including the “chaotic” approach to tensions with Iran.
“This is our single most important bilateral relationship,” he wrote of the U.K.-U.S. ties.
The British prime minister, Theresa May, said Darroch’s resignation was “a matter of deep regret”when speaking to the House of Commonsin London on Wednesday and that he was owed an “enormous debt of gratitude” for his service.
Leading contenders to replace May as prime minister had been split about whether they would keep Darroch in his job,according toThe New York Times.
source: people.com
