By Jon Craig, chief political correspondent
Boris Johnson has hit back at criticism that he threw the former British ambassador to the US “under a bus”.
He has insisted he is a great supporter of Sir Kim, who has dramatically quit, and has revealed that he rang him to commiserate.
It has emerged that the ambassador decided to resign after Mr Johnson – odds-on favourite to become prime minister in two weeks' time – refused to pledge his support for him in Tuesday's head-to-head TV debate, while his rival Jeremy Hunt backed Sir Kim to carry on.
But responding to fierce criticism, the former Foreign Secretary has told The Sun: "I can't believe they're trying to blame me for this.
"It seems bizarre to me. I'm a great supporter of Kim's. I worked very well with him for years.
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"I spoke to him just now to offer my good wishes. I think that he's done a superb job."
Asked why he failed to back him in the TV debate, Mr Johnson said: "I don't think it's right to drag public servants' careers into the arena in that way.
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"I thought it was most odd that the career of a particular servant should suddenly become a test case within a TV debate."
The strongest criticism of Mr Johnson came from his former deputy at the Foreign Office, Sir Alan Duncan.
"Boris Johnson has basically thrown our top diplomat under a bus," he said. "His disregard for Sir Kim Darroch and his refusal to back him was in my view pretty contemptible, but also not in the interests of the country."
After Sir Kim's resignation, over leaked memos in which he described President Trump's administration as inept, there's now a battle raging between allies of Theresa May and Mr Johnson over who should appoint his successor.
Downing Street has said an appointment will be made in due course.
Ministers loyal to the Prime Minister want her to move swiftly to appoint a replacement to deny Mr Johnson making the decision.
They claim the role is too important to be left vacant for an extended period and point out that her predecessor, David Cameron, appointed Ed Llewelyn, his chief of staff, as ambassador to France shortly after saying he was leaving Number 10.
But Mr Johnson's supportersRead More – Source
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