Sir Kim Darroch on Wednesday resigned as the U.K. ambassador to the U.S. amid a row over leaked emails criticizing President Donald Trump.
In his resignation letter addressed to the Foreign office, Sir Kim said the leak had created a negative atmosphere surrounding his role.
“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,” he said.
“I want to put an end to that speculation.”
“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 added.
Following the leak of the emails, President Trump said he would no longer deal with the man who had branded his administration “inept” and “uniquely dysfunctional.”
Trump on Tuesday called the outgoing envoy a “pompous fool.”
A spokesperson for the U.K. Foreign office said Sir Kim would stay on until a new ambassador takes over, although there is the possibility of a caretaker envoy being appointed to allow him leave sooner.
In response to the resignation, Sir Simon McDonald, permanent under secretary and head of the diplomatic service hailed the envoy, describing him as being “the best of us.”
