Donald Trump has criticised Britain's ambassador to the US, Kim Darroch, saying he 'has not served the UK well' after the leak of confidential memos describing the Trump administration as 'uniquely dysfunctional' and 'inept'. The US president told reporters in New Jersey: 'We are not big fans of that man.'
The leaked cables, published by the Mail on Sunday, detail Darroch's assessments of the White House over the past two years. He described the administration as 'incoherent and chaotic' on Iran policy and cast doubt on Trump's claim about calling off a retaliatory air strike. The Foreign Office has ordered a formal leak investigation.
British foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt distanced the government from the remarks, saying they were personal views and not the government's position. Justice secretary David Gauke defended the need for ambassadors to give 'honest, unvarnished advice' and called the leak 'disgraceful'. Conservative MP Tom Tugendhat described it as a 'very serious breach' of diplomatic rules.
Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage said the leak showed Darroch should be replaced, arguing he was 'totally opposed to the Trump doctrine'. Darroch is due to leave his post at the end of the year, but the leak may accelerate the appointment of a successor. Potential candidates include cabinet secretary Mark Sedwill and former chancellor George Osborne.
