THERE WAS NEVER A CHOICE - DARROCH HAD TO GO

The rather unedifying spat over comments made by the British ambassador in New York was only ever going to end one way. While some have attempted to use the issue as something over which to criticise Donald Trump and Boris Johnson, the truth is that the ambassador, Kim Darroch, made a huge diplomatic blunder and those who subsequently supported him got it horribly wrong.

For an ambassador to provide honest analysis of the country to which he is posted, and its leaders and other senior figures, is perfectly right and proper, but to make derogatory comments in an insecure medium such as email is stupid and unforgiveable. It shows a lack of basic intelligence and a breath taking degree of arrogance; presumably Darroch was so sure of himself that it never occurred to him that his highly critical remarks about the most powerful politician in the world, the President of the United States, and the administration of that country, might be leaked and would be considered diplomatically unacceptable. Once the comments became public, Darroch's position was immediately untenable, with there being no chance that his continued presence would be acceptable to the government of the United States.

Jeremy Hunt has said that it is up to the United Kingdom to decide who its ambassadors are and not the countries of their postings; of course, he is basically correct but he failed to mention that ambassadors do also have to be acceptable to their hosts. Boris Johnson is less dogmatic and has commented that the overall international relationship with a principal ally has to be considered - in this he is absolutely correct. While Hunt offered total support to Darroch, Johnson did not; it seems that Theresa May has also sided with Hunt on this point, both being utterly wrong.

Fortunately, Darroch has chosen to see the impossibility of his position and has now resigned; it appears that he has shown the diplomatic understanding which Hunt and May clearly lack. The choice between Hunt and Johnson as to which will be the next leader of the Conservative Party and Prime Minister suddenly becomes much more clear. Should it be someone who blindly supports a foolish ambassador against our most important ally, or someone who sees the alliance as being more important ?

The answer seems obvious.