Johnson accused of ‘contemptible negligence’ as US envoy he refused to back quits post

sources fear the leak of Sir Kim’s emails – and Johnson’s failure to back him – create difficulties for other British diplomats.

One said: “The next PM publicly throws this country’s representative to the wolves to feed the ego of a fickle child in the White House. It’s tantamount to telling the civil service they are totally disposable.”

Foreign Office mandarin Sir Simon Mcdonald called an all-staff meeting after the “worst breach of trust” in his career over the leaked emails. He said: “People are shaken by what has happened. The basis on which we have worked all our careers suddenly feels as if it is challenged..”

Sir Simon also warned he was “bracing” himself for fresh leaks from embassies around the world.

No10 confirmed there had been “initial discussions” with police about the leak. In a letter to Scotland Yard, Foreign Affairs Committee chair Tom Tugendhat said: “This appears to be a serious criminal act”. Sir Kim had rattled thin-skinned Trump with his leaked criticism of his administration.

The president responded with a barrage of childish and insulting tweets in which he called the ambassador “stupid”, “pompous” and “wacky” before announcing he would no longer work with him.

In his resignation letter, Sir Kim wrote: “Since the leak of official documents from this embassy, there has been speculation surrounding my

House. If diplomats know their messages could be leaked they may be forced to withhold information.