U.K. ambassador to U.S. resigns after memo leak

LONDON — Kim Darroch resigned Wednesday as Britain’s ambassador to the United States after the leak of his candid observations on the Trump administration, a ferocious response from President Donald Trump and the failure of the likely next prime minister, Boris Johnson, to support the British envoy.

Darroch submitted his resignation in a letter that said the situation was making it impossible for him to carry out his role.

“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,” he wrote.

On Monday, Trump said the White House would no longer deal with Darroch after the leak of confidential emails written by the ambassador that had described the Trump administration as “clumsy and inept.” The president described the ambassador as “wacky,” a “very stupid guy” and a “pompous fool,” and called Prime Minister Theresa May “foolish” for ignoring his advice on Brexit, Britain’s plan to leave the European Union.

The dispute has cast a shadow over ties between London and Washington and taken center stage in the Tory leadership contest to succeed May as prime minister, which Johnson is heavily favored to win.

During a televised debate Tuesday night, Johnson, the former foreign secretary, ignited a firestorm by refusing several opportunities to say that he would keep Darroch in his post until a scheduled departure date in January. He also declined to criticize Trump, stressing his good relationship with the White House and playing down the rift.

Within hours, the ambassador had submitted his resignation.

Johnson’s failure to back the ambassador was met with withering criticism from opponents.

“The fact that Sir Kim has been bullied out of his job, because of Donald Trump’s tantrums and Boris Johnson’s pathetic lickspittle response, is something that shames our country,” said Emily Thornberry, the opposition Labour Party’s shadow foreign secretary. “It makes a laughingstock out of our government.”