‘Impossible to carry on’: Kim Darroch, UK ambassador to Washington, resigns after leaked cables about ‘clumsy, inept’ Trump administration

‘The current situation is making it impossible for me to carry out my role as I would like,’ he said in his resignation letter

The spat erupted after a British newspaper published a leaked memo revealing he had described the Trump administration as ‘clumsy and inept’ and could ‘crash and burn’

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British ambassador Kim Darroch has stepped down from his position. Photo: AP

Published: 7:12pm, 10 Jul 2019Updated: 10:26pm, 10 Jul 2019

Britain’s ambassador to Washington resigned on Wednesday after incurring the wrath of US President Donald Trump over comments he made in confidential cables, in which he described the Trump administration as “inept” and “uniquely dysfunctional”.

The memos, which were leaked to a British newspaper, set off an ensuing political furore which led to Trump labelling Kim Darroch as “stupid” and “wacky”.

The US leader also said his administration would no longer “deal” with Darroch.

In a resignation letter to the British Foreign Office, Darroch said the scandal made it “impossible” for him to continue representing British interests in the United States.

“Since the leak of official documents from this Embassy there has been a great deal of speculation surrounding my position and the duration of my remaining term as ambassador,” Kim Darroch said in his resignation letter.

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