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It's a good day to reflect on the forced resignation of Kim Darroch from his post as US ambassador in July 2019.
Leaked documents revealed Darroch being highly critical of Trump and Johnson refused to support him, essentially making his position untenable. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/jul/10/kim-darroch-effectively-sacked-by-johnson-on-the-orders-of-trump?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other
Leaked documents revealed Darroch being highly critical of Trump and Johnson refused to support him, essentially making his position untenable. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/jul/10/kim-darroch-effectively-sacked-by-johnson-on-the-orders-of-trump?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other
There's a few points to reflect on here. Firstly, the leak was clearly made by someone who wanted Darroch out if the way. The documents were received by a freelance journalist who was also an employee of the Brexit Party Ltd.
Farage was one of the first to publicly criticise Darroch, as was Trump himself. By refusing to support him despite frequent opportunities to do so, Johnson was effectively taking the side of Trump and Farage here.
At the time of the resignation, Johnson was still Foreign Secretary (effectively Darroch's boss), but was also the frontrunner to become the next party leader although the contest had not yet ended.
So Johnson, Farage and others took the side of Trump rather than supporting the official representatives of our own government. Turns out Darroch's assessment was pretty much spot on.
Britain not only backed the wrong horse, but trashed the career of the right one.
Britain not only backed the wrong horse, but trashed the career of the right one.
Finally, reflect on why Darroch resigned - he felt that the lack of support from his employer and the importance of UK / US relations made his position untenable.
Clearly an honourable person.
I wonder how many of the current cabinet would resign in such circumstances?
Clearly an honourable person.
I wonder how many of the current cabinet would resign in such circumstances?
As a postscript, perhaps we should bear in mind that this wasn't a chance inadvertent move by Johnson. It followed almost the exact same MO as his forcing of the resignation of Met Police chief Sir Ian Blair 11 years before when Johnson was London mayor. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2008/oct/02/ian.blair.resigns?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other
This is how Johnson operates. Other people are always expendable so that Johnson can get what he wants, or get himself into the position he wants to be in. Their careers are collateral damage. He relies on the honour of others while having none of his own. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jul/10/after-kim-darroch-britain-risks-becoming-vassal-to-united-states?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other
On the subject of collateral damage, this is the title of Kim Darroch's book. Which hints at the fact that he sees the whole imbroglio in the same way as I have outlined above. https://www.theguardian.com/books/2020/sep/14/collateral-damage-by-kim-darroch-review-our-fall-guy-in-washington?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other
One very final afterword.
May was a lame duck PM by that stage and everyone knew it. But she was still PM.
Johnson wanted Darroch out of the way, but May had the last laugh, making him a crossbench peer in her resignation honours - an unsackable role... https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/theresa-may-trump-honours-list-kim-darroch-peerage-a9098641.html
May was a lame duck PM by that stage and everyone knew it. But she was still PM.
Johnson wanted Darroch out of the way, but May had the last laugh, making him a crossbench peer in her resignation honours - an unsackable role... https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/theresa-may-trump-honours-list-kim-darroch-peerage-a9098641.html
This is a good point.
But Johnson has never liked or rewarded those who speak truth to power. Loyalty is rewarded, not competence.
He'd prefer lookout who continues telling him there is no iceberg, whilst he's busy making a Titanic success of Brexit... https://twitter.com/poachermullen/status/1347441162882342913?s=19
But Johnson has never liked or rewarded those who speak truth to power. Loyalty is rewarded, not competence.
He'd prefer lookout who continues telling him there is no iceberg, whilst he's busy making a Titanic success of Brexit... https://twitter.com/poachermullen/status/1347441162882342913?s=19
