Could GEORGE OSBORNE be the UK’s next ambassador to the US? Rumours swirl about ex-Chancellor after Sir Kim Darroch quits over spat with Trump

• Sir Kim Darroch has announced that he is quitting as UK ambassador to the US 
• Rumour mill is already in top gear over who will succeed him in the prized post 
• George Osborne is among the names being mooted for the Washington job
• But many observers believe it is more likely to end up being a career civil servant 

Rumours swirled today about who might get the plum job of the UK’s ambassador – with George Osborne among the names in the frame.

The abrupt departure of Sir Kim Darroch following his extraordinary spat with Donald Trump has left a vacancy in the Foreign Office’s most prominent overseas post.

Speculation is already at fever pitch over who might get the role – and whether Theresa May will try to force through an appointment before she leaves No10 in a fortnight.  

Boris Johnson is the hot favourite to win the Tory leadership contest and take over after that. 

The bookmakers’ front runner for the Washington job is Michael Tatham, who is currently Sir Kim’s deputy. 

Rumours swirled today about who might get the plum job of the UK’s ambassador – with George Osborne (pictured at Wimbledon tennis last week) among the names in the frame

Mr Osborne’s former chief of staff, Rupert Harrison, set a hare running today by suggesting he could be in for the rol

But if the government decides it needs to have a complete clear-out in the US in order to reset relations with the White House then more left-field names are likely to be considered. 

Mr Osborne’s former chief of staff, Rupert Harrison, set a hare running today by suggesting he could be in for the role. 

The former chancellor is currently editing the Evening Standard, but there have been claims he wants to head the IMF think-tank in Washington. 

Mr Harrison tweeted: ‘UK ambassador to the US and managing director of the IMF are both jobs that are based in Washington DC. Just sayin… ‘

He later insisted he was joking, although senior Tories believe Mr Osborne is keen on a move to the US.

As a staunch Remainer and the architect of so-called ‘Project Fear’ at first glance he would appear an unlikely candidate.

However, his newspaper did back Mr Johnson for the leadership recently, and many of his close allies – including Matt Hancock and Sajid Javid – have lined up behind the favourite.

Nigel Farage is the second favourite for the job with the bookies, but the Brexit Party leader has ruled himself out and the chances of the government appointing him appear slim. 

The third favourite is Olly Robbins. 

However, Mr Robbins has served as the top government official on Brexit in recent years – and would be completely unacceptable to most Eurosceptics. 

He has already announced he is leaving the civil service. 

Nigel Farage (pictured at the European Parliament last week) has ruled himself out of being the next ambassador, admitting he is ‘not a diplomat’

Sir Kim Darroch (pictured) announced he was quitting today after leaked diplomatic cables revealed he had labelled Mr Trump ‘inept’

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