Sunday Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Brexit Party chief’s lover behind story that forced out our man in Washington
But tycoon denies he wants job
THE journalist who sparked the resignation of Britain’s US ambassador is in a relationship with Nigel Farage’s Brexit Party chairman.
Isabel Oakeshott – who revealed Sir Kim Darroch’s leaked Donald Trump emails – has been with MEP Richard Tice since last year.
Mr Tice, 54, wants Sir Kim replaced by a “pro-Brexit businessman” – a description which fits both himself and Mr Farage.
Ms Oakeshott, 45, yesterday refused to comment on her relationship with the politician, who has left his wife Emma, saying: “It’s a private matter.”
But she insisted her lover was not involved in the leak of the envoy’s emails which described Donald Trump’s administration as “dysfunctional” and “inept”.
Mum-of-three Ms Oakeshott, who separated from husband Nigel Rosser in 2018, said: “Richard had nothing to do with the cables. He has never seen them, never handled them and was not involved in acquiring them.
“Tempting though it is to put two and two together to make 55, there is no link between him and the ambassador story.” But since then Mr Tice has had plenty so say about Sir Kim’s resignation – and who
should get the job.
DEAL
After the envoy quit in the absence of backing from Boris Johnson in a TV debate, Mr Tice tweeted: “Should be proBrexit businessperson who can accelerate free trade talks Darroch had been lamentable at.”
He later added: “Now it’s time for a pro-Brexit businessman to be appointed who can lead a quick US trade deal.”
Mr Tice fits the bill. He is chief executive of Quidnet Capital LLP which manages around £500million of property. He was founder of Leave Means Leave and became Brexit Party MEP for East of England in May.
But yesterday a family friend insisted he does not want the US job. She said: “The idea never crossed his mind.
“He’s totally focused on his Brexit Party. role.” And Mr Tice tweeted: “Conspiracy theorists who think I want US Ambassador job totally wrong. Ridiculous suggestion.”
Meanwhile, Met police antiterror cops have launched an investigation into the leaks citing the Official Secrets Act.
Ms Oakeshott, who co-authored a book revealing a sensational claim – which was later denied – that David Cameron put his penis in a pig’s head, said she has a duty to protect her sources.
Yesterday Jeremy Corbyn said of Sir Kim’s resignation: “I supported him. I deeply regret his resignation.”