Sir Kim Darroch, the UK’s ambassador to the US, resigned after memos in which he called Donald Trump “inept” were leaked. In reference to the resignation, the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg warned such conventions should not be “chucked out the window” and similar situations could become a “theme” under Boris Johnson. Speaking on BBC’s Politics Live, Ms Kuenssberg read out quotes from Tory leadership contender Jeremy Hunt: “‘I’m deeply saddened by Sir Kim Darroch’s decision, he served his country with the utmost dedication and distinction. I profoundly regret this episode has led him to resign. It’s outrageous that this has happened as a product of a leak.’

“Sir Patrick McLoughlin, who’s part of Jeremy Hunt’s campaign, interestingly says ‘it’s unedifying to see someone who wants to be Prime Minister failing to stand up for hardworking civil servants who have done nothing wrong.’

“And I expect if Boris Johnson gets into Number 10, this is going to be a theme, isn’t it.

“This is going to be something that runs, but I think we’re in very, very difficult territory here and it’s the type of convention we shouldn’t chuck out the window without a backward glance. These things matter.”

Earlier in the show, BBC host Jo Coburn asked: “Are these the long lasting implications when you look at this, this discussion about the neutrality of the civil service.

“One watching might say it’s impossible to prove complete neutrality on every issue, and removing or Sir Kim Darroch rather resigning and being replaced by somebody who is more like, or certainly more supportive, of the sort of politics in the US, is also showing a lack of partiality?”

The BBC political editor replied: “I think there’s a few things to say here, first off the referendum result in 2016 was a real shock to the political establishment, to use that phrase.

“I think that set the backdrop for a lot of the suspicions that arose on the Brexiteers’ side. But when you talk to many Brexiteers who have actually been in Government, to a man, it’s nearly always men, they say my officials were amazing, they were excellent, they were carrying out my instructions.

“Of course there have been frustrations. But another thing about this debate, I think it’s really important for our audience to understand this, people get very upset about these sorts of thing for all sorts of obvious political reasons.

“But it gets ministers off the hook too. A lot of the criticism that was directed at Olly Robbins time and time again, he was working for Theersa May and acting on her instructions.

“Now in a time of political hostility on all sides, it is not surprising that politicians on all stripes, remember last week there was this story about Jeremy Corbyn and the attitude of civil servants towards him, decide that it’s an easy target to go after officials who can’t talk back who are trying their best in often very different circumstances.

“But can we say that there has never been an episode where ministers who have wanted to be radical have encountered real stiff resistance? Of course we can’t.”

In a letter to the head of the Foreign Office, Sir Simon McDonald, Sir Kim said the current situation had made it “impossible” for him to carry out his job.

He said he believed it was “responsible” for a new ambassador to take his place. He wrote: “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.

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“I want to put an end to that speculation. The current situation is making it impossible for me to carry out my role as I would like. 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.

“I am grateful to all those in the UK and the US, who have offered their support during this difficult few days. This has brought home to me the depth of friendship and close ties between our two countries. I have been deeply touched.

“I am also grateful to all those with whom I have worked over the last four decades, particularly my team here in the US. The professionalism and integrity of the British civil service is the envy of the world. I will leave it full of confidence that its values remain in safe hands.”

Mr Johnson described Sir Kim as a “superb diplomat and I worked with him for many years”. He said: “I think whoever leaked his diptels really has done a grave disservice to our civil servants, to people who give impartial advice to ministers.

“I hope that whoever it is, is run down, caught and eviscerated, quite frankly, because it is not right that advice to ministers that civil servants must be able to make in a spirit of freedom should be leaked. It is not right that civil servants’ careers and prospects should be dragged into the political agenda.”

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