Thread by @TomKibasi

THREAD on the leak that caused Sir Kim Darroch to quit

This is a theory from the very top of the civil service and diplomatic corps.

It’s an absolute classic of the British establishment.

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The real target of the leak was not Kim Darroch but the Cabinet Secretary Sir Mark Sedwill.

In recent months Sedwill has told friends that he would like to be named as British ambassador to Washington—as part of a deal to quit at the end of Johnson’s transition to PM.

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By forcing out Darroch now, Sedwill is effectively excluded because he needs to remain as Cabinet Secretary until the transition to Johnson is complete. Instead, Johnson will now name a new ambassador within a week of becoming PM.

So who has it in for Sedwill?

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Enter Gavin Williamson, who blames Sedwill for his unceremonious firing as Defence Secretary over the Huawei leak.

The theory is that Williamson leaked the Darroch cables in revenge for Sedwill advising May to sack him.

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Apparently May also thinks it was Williamson which is why she’s asked the police to investigate the leak of Darroch’s messages—in the hope of getting Williamson.

So true establishment intrigue.

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