A close ally of Donald Trump has ignited a diplomatic firestorm by calling for British civil servants to face criminal prosecution over the leaking of sensitive diplomatic cables.
The controversial demand comes from John Bolton, who served as National Security Advisor under Trump and has close ties to the former president. Bolton's comments have sent shockwaves through Westminster and threaten to strain the special relationship between the UK and US.
The Leak That Rocked UK-US Relations
The controversy centres on the 2019 leak of diplomatic cables from Sir Kim Darroch, then Britain's ambassador to Washington. In his confidential communications, Darroch described the Trump administration as "inept" and "uniquely dysfunctional," leading to a furious response from the White House.
Sir Kim was ultimately forced to resign from his position following Trump's very public condemnation of his remarks. The leak investigation, known as Operation Metalic, concluded without any charges being brought against individuals within the civil service.
Bolton's Explosive Intervention
In his forthcoming interview with GB News, Bolton makes the extraordinary demand that those responsible for the leaks should face prosecution, stating: "The people who did that, if they can be identified, should be prosecuted."
He further claims that the failure to hold leakers accountable has created a "culture of leaking" within Whitehall that continues to damage international relations. His comments represent an unprecedented intervention by a foreign political figure into the UK's justice system.
Whitehall Reacts With Fury
Senior figures in Westminster have reacted with anger to Bolton's demands. Dave Penman, general secretary of the FDA union representing senior civil servants, condemned the remarks as "deeply inappropriate," stating that such decisions should be made by UK authorities alone.
The incident raises serious questions about foreign influence in British domestic affairs and the independence of the UK's legal system from political pressure from overseas.
This development comes at a sensitive time for UK-US relations, with the upcoming presidential election potentially returning Trump to power and testing the resilience of the special relationship once again.
