Thread by @benrileysmith

Typical - leave Washington for a week of summer holiday and it all kicks off.

Here are five belated and brief thoughts on the Darroch-Trump affair (posted from a sunny corner of the world)...

1) Britain undoubtedly loses from @KimDarroch’s departure. He was a skilled and wily diplomat, always incisive in his analysis of the Trump admin (as I saw firsthand). It will take time for his successor to build links. During that phase UK influence will be diminished.

2) Trump’s intimation that he and his senior figures disliked / distrusted Darroch is baloney from what I can tell. Can think of a handful of times Republican congressmen / Trump allies have praised Darroch unprompted. Had good access to W House whatever president now says.

3) Once the dip tels were out his departure was close to inevitable. The main job of a US ambassador (barring feeding back info) is to influence Trump + his administration. Being black-balled by the president made that impossible.

4) Two thoughts re timing of Darroch resignation. One - he likely realised job was untenable and felt duty-bound to offer to go. Two - going now avoids forcing next PM into the difficult decision of sticking or sacking him on day one. New PM starts with a clean slate.

5) For Trump everything in foreign relations is personal. The speed with which Trump conflated leaked telegrams with some wider perceived attack from UK gov on him was telling. May and Trump never gelled despite all the pomp + ceremony. New PM must establish warmer personal ties.