Sir Kim Darroch: British ambassador leaves US after calling Trump 'incompetent' in leaked memos
The senior diplomat聽resigned from his post in July聽after diplomatic cables where he criticised the US president were made public.
Saturday 24 August 2019 18:47, UK
Sir Kim Darroch, the British ambassador to the US, has officially left his post in Washington after a row over leaked memos that were critical of Donald Trump, according to a UK official briefed on the matter.
The senior diplomat resigned from his post last month after diplomatic cables where he called the US president "incompetent", "inept" and "insecure" were made public.
It prompted a furious rebuke from Mr Trump, who labelled the ambassador "wacky", "very stupid" and a "pompous fool".
In the days following the leak, the president said the White House would no longer deal with Sir Kim, making his position untenable.
Sir Kim left Washington this week, with deputy ambassador Michael Tatham assuming the role as acting head of mission, according to a UK official.
Resigning from his post in July, Sir Kim said: "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."
One of the central duties of the US ambassador is to act as the liaison between the British government and the White House.
In the days following the leak of the cables, Sir Kim was unable to attend planned meetings at the White House with the then trade minister Liam Fox, who was visiting Washington DC at the time.
Sir Kim will remain a Foreign Office employee and has returned to the UK.
The Metropolitan Police launched a criminal investigation in the aftermath of the leak.
Boris Johnson will now appoint a new ambassador to the US as he seeks to secure the relationship between the two countries. The prime minster is due to meet Mr Trump for the first time since he assumed office this weekend at the G7 meeting in Biarritz.
The two have spoken by phone a number of times since he became prime minister, with their latest conversation on Friday.
According to officials, they discussed global trade issues during the call, a conversation which is expected to continue during their face-to-face meeting in France.
US officials said this week that the White House "would like to be able to make progress" in discussions about a US-UK trade deal during meetings this weekend. They noted that the president is "very enthusiastic about that process".