Boris Johnson admits he WAS responsible for US ambassador Kim Darroch quitting over Trump leaks

BORIS Johnson today admitted he was partly to blame for the resignation of US ambassador Sir Kim Darroch.

The would-be PM said Sir Kim decided to quit after hearing that he'd refused to support the diplomat in a debate with Jeremy Hunt.

But he insisted his words had been twisted because the ambassador hadn't heard his exact comments.

Mr Johnson made the admission in a BBC interview with presenter Andrew Neil.

He revealed he spoke to Sir Kim yesterday, 24 hours after the ambassador resigned in the wake of his secret diplomatic cables about Donald Trump getting leaked to the press.

Boris said Sir Kim had not watched the leadership debate, but had been told about it by someone else.

He added: "He said that what somebody had relayed to him had certainly been a factor in his resignation.

"I think that unfortunately what I said on that TV debate was misrepresented to Kim."

Sir Kim quit after it emerged that he had criticised the Trump administration as chaotic and dysfunctional.

The President hit back, calling the ambassador "pompous" and banning his team from dealing with him any more.

Mr Hunt stood up for Sir Kim in Tuesday night's debate, but Boris refused to guarantee he would keep him on in Washington.

BBC BUST-UP

Tonight the Foreign Secretary laid in to his rival, saying for the first time that BoJo's behaviour had been "one of the factors" in forcing Sir Kim out.

He said: "I think he’s been clear that that was one of the factors and I think it’s a great shame.

"Because I need as Foreign Secretary our ambassadors to be able to tell me as Foreign Secretary exactly what’s going on in their countries, exactly what they think – and I think they need to know that we’re going to stand behind them."

In tonight's BBC interviews, Mr Hunt repeatedly declined to promise that Britain will quit the EU by 2020 if he makes it to No10.

Asked if Brexit will happen by Christmas, he replied: "I expect so."

But he added: "I think I'm the best person to get a deal... but I can't control what Parliament does."

Mr Johnson hit back: "I think it's very, very important that we get ready to leave on October 31, come what may, and we will."

The two men are locked in an increasingly bitter battle for the Tory leadership with the winner set to be announced on July 23.

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