[Update: the statement from the Foreign Ofice received by CNN appears to confirm the authenticity of the leaked documents however I will keep the preamble warning for complete disclosure.] A word of caution: this story is based on a report from the Mail on Sunday, the sister paper of the Daily Mail. Normally reference to it would not be made in view of its very right wing, tending on Islamophobic reporting.
The Mail on Sunday claims to have copies of highly confidential cables and briefing notes sent by the British Ambassador to the US, Sir Kim Darroch, to the UK Foreign Office. In these, they claim, Sir Kim describes the Trump administration as “inept”.
- Describes bitter conflicts within Trump's White House – verified by his own sources – as 'knife fights';
- Warns that Trump could have been indebted to 'dodgy Russians';
- Claims the President's economic policies could wreck the world trade system;
- Says the scandal-hit Presidency could 'crash and burn' and that 'we could be at the beginning of a downward spiral... that leads to disgrace and downfall';
- Voices fears that Trump could still attack Iran.
In one of the most sensitive documents, Sir Kim writes: 'We don't really believe this Administration is going to become substantially more normal; less dysfunctional; less unpredictable; less faction riven; less diplomatically clumsy and inept.
In a statement of the blindingly obvious but something that perhaps should not have been put in writing, Sir Kim describes Trump’s character:
In the confidential memo – marked 'Official Sensitive' – the UK's most important diplomat accused Trump of 'radiating insecurity', filling his speeches with 'false claims and invented statistics' and achieving 'almost nothing' in terms of domestic policy.
Sir Kim also reported that Liz had done her job and Trump was over the moon about his State Visit. That apparently made the UK flavor of the month. I am not sure that will continue when this Mail on Sunday exclusive gets reported in America. Prepare for a tweetstorm.
Sunday, Jul 7, 2019 · 3:03:21 AM +00:00 · Lib Dem FoP
CNN now has a report which points out the “diplomatic damage” the leak could do. It also repeats Sir Kim’s assessment that there is “a path” to Trump’s re-election.
Importantly, it includes a statement received from the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO)
"The British public would expect our Ambassadors to provide Ministers with an honest, unvarnished assessment of the politics in their country. Their views are not necessarily the views of Ministers or indeed the government. But we pay them to be candid. Just as the US Ambassador here will send back his reading of Westminster politics and personalities," a statement from the British FCO said.
"Of course we would expect such advice to be handled by Ministers and civil servants in the right way and it's important that our Ambassadors can offer their advice and for it remain confidential. Our team in Washington have strong relations with the White House and no doubt that these will withstand such mischievous behaviour," the statement continued.
Which translates to “You are very naughty boys for publishing cos it means Ambassadors might not be frank. OK, you’ve got us bang to right”.