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Leaked e-mails and Farage as replacement?

(170 Posts)
trisher Mon 08-Jul-19 10:22:21

The leaked e-mails from the British Ambassador criticising Trump have hit the headlines. There is some speculation that this is a put-up job and the aim is to get Nigel as the next Ambassador. Personally I can't think of anything more disastrous, or many people less suitable. No doubt him and Trump would be best mates but should that be the position of a British Ambassador? And can you think of anyone worse than Farage?

paddyann Tue 09-Jul-19 13:05:44

Were the leaks even LEAKS. Alistair Carmichael made up a wee story involving our FM and a french diplomat and proceeded to "leak" it .The diplomat immediately confirmed the FM hadn't said what Carmichael had "leaked" and the story was a lie .Guess what his constituents still voted him in even though he was a proven liar .Take LEAKS at face value ?

Callistemon Tue 09-Jul-19 12:54:45

I wonder if someone got a rather lucrative backhander to pass on this information to someone who has malicious intent but from which side?

Dinahmo Tue 09-Jul-19 11:09:53

Callistemon I would suggest that the right reason in this case is malicious intent.

Callistemon Tue 09-Jul-19 11:04:16

That is the question, Urmstongran!

Cui bono?

Urmstongran Tue 09-Jul-19 11:00:01

Who benefits from this leak though?

Callistemon Tue 09-Jul-19 10:46:04

No, whitewave, I missed Haig, will find what he said. He was on the news last night too, but only caught the very end as I was cooking.
I was thinking of others who leaked to the Guardian about Cruise missiles and went to prison.

I have absolutely no idea MaizieD - do you?

I repeat:
There have always been those who believe they are leaking information for the right reasons but in the event cause chaos and yes, if caught, they should be prosecuted because they can cause much damage.

If you can surmise what the right reasons are in this case then please let me know.

MaizieD Tue 09-Jul-19 10:32:19

There have always been those who believe they are leaking information for the right reasons

So what could conceivably be 'the right reasons' in this case, Callistomen?

Whitewavemark2 Tue 09-Jul-19 10:26:55

callistemon it will be interesting. Did you listen to Haig on R4 this morning.

I had forgotten about all the tapes released a few years ago concerning USA diplomatic messages etc. They were very disparaging about many world leaders, but I don’t remember governments refusing to deal with the us ambassador as a result. Why on earth should we pander to Trump?

Callistemon Tue 09-Jul-19 10:22:56

Thanks suziewoozie re the explanation about the email.
I do wonder, though, what is the most secure way for this sensitive information to be passed to those who need to know.
There have always been those who believe they are leaking information for the right reasons but in the event cause chaos and yes, if caught, I think they should be prosecuted because they can cause much damage.
The newspaper which published this too.

Any relationship which has been built up between Darroch and the present administration will have been damaged probably beyond repair, Whitewave so I would think he will have to be replaced if Trump refuses to deal with him.
With another very senior diplomat of our choosing not a Trump puppet.

Elegran Tue 09-Jul-19 10:22:26

It scared me when I read it, POGS, just as a fictional novel. In real life the thought of someone with no more sense than a child having access to people's private opinions via hackers and sycophantic snoopers, and also having uncontrolled political and media power is terrifying.

POGS Tue 09-Jul-19 10:13:16

I can think of a few people besides Trump that story could apply to.

Elegran Tue 09-Jul-19 09:59:15

Trump reminds me of a science fiction story I once read.

It was about a child born with two unique powers - he could read people's minds and he could make things happen by the power of thought. At the start of the book he was a baby having baby tantrums if he was hungry or uncomfortable, forcing his mother to do as he wished or suffer pain.

As he grew, he got stronger, and anyone who crossed him or restricted him was instantly struck down with lethal damage to body or mind and their bodies went under the cornfield. He couldn't bear strangers and caused the whole of the world outside his own village to completely disappear.

Villagers who tried to plot against him in secret were instantly detected and annihilated, and the ones left went around tending the corn and any other remnants of crops and saying, and even thinking, what a lovely day it was and how beautiful life was in this perfectly run village, while their numbers dwindled and their fields were demolished if he didn't like the look of them, and the cornfield grew ever more lush.

Whitewavemark2 Tue 09-Jul-19 08:35:24

Darroch

Whitewavemark2 Tue 09-Jul-19 08:35:03

It will be interested to see the way the wind blows once Johnson gets in. If he cow-tows to Trumps suggestion that he get rid of Darron.

If Johnson does we will truly know who controls the U.K.

suziewoozie Tue 09-Jul-19 08:32:43

By the way Call I have heard nothing from any past ambassador or person experienced in diplomatic affairs who sees anything wrong in an ambassador expressing views like this honestly - it’s part of the job and if that’s removed or lessened, we are all losers.

suziewoozie Tue 09-Jul-19 08:28:38

Callistemon - my understanding is that it wasn’t unsafe emails - no one is suggesting a hacker was at work- the messages were sent by the usual secure electronic methods ( but obviously I doubt they’ll put details about this into the public domain for obvious reasons). Communiques in diplomatic bags would have been subject to the same treatment by the leaker. These messages have been amassed over a period of time and leaked at a well chosen moment. It’s not about security - it’s about a civil servant behaving appallingly almost certainly in breach of the Official Secrets Act. There’s is nothing we have seen that could remotely be described as being in the public interest. I hope ( but doubt) that the leaker will be caught, charged and imprisoned ( and stripped of all pension rights). And why do we keep this blanket protection of journalists?m

Whitewavemark2 Tue 09-Jul-19 08:15:33

I see Tice is calling for Darroch’s resignation. Well, surprise, surprise.

Riverwalk Tue 09-Jul-19 07:32:19

Trumps latest tweets prove the ambassador was absolutely right in his assessments.

Someone, can't remember who, said yesterday that during the Wikileaks era there were many just as uncomplimentary messages revealed from US diplomats about the UK government!

Trump has a notoriously thin skin and seems to only like to deal with people who say nice things about him. Also, was there ever a supposed friendly ally who directly criticized a sitting prime minister in such a hostile manner? There's nothing to admire about a populist loose cannon who spouts his mouth off.

travelsafar Tue 09-Jul-19 06:53:02

Urmstongran love it, what you have written is sooo true!!! How i wish i had a job working in politics, just sosmething low profile, as the intrigue and skullduggery that goes on both fasinates and horrifies me. How wonderful to be there and seeing and hearing what goes on, there would never be a dull or boring moment at work!!!

MaizieD Mon 08-Jul-19 23:56:22

According to the Guardian they weren't emails, they were telegrams. Whatever they were, though, someone has broken the iron rule of confidentiality. The ambassador is not to blame for using a customary practice. The UK gets more and more like a corrupt banana republic every day. This is not behaviour we would expect of our public servants.

Callistemon Mon 08-Jul-19 23:22:43

Ambassadors are expected to provide explicit details of their opinions. It's their job.
Have unsafe emails taken over from diplomatic bags?

Callistemon Mon 08-Jul-19 23:20:58

“The UK ambassador was a fool to put his unvarnished opinions in writing and think they would be kept secret”
That was my first thought Urmstongran

Farage surely could not become British Ambassador to anywhere. Surely as a politician who has strong connections to two political parties and a political agenda he is totally unsuitable.
A career diplomat is a civil servant and should remain impartial - unfortunately Kim Darroch erred in putting these views in an email, however true they may be.

lemongrove Mon 08-Jul-19 23:01:17

X posts maddy ? you got there before me.

lemongrove Mon 08-Jul-19 23:00:14

For once MaizieD I agree with you , and in fact it would be more than highly irregular, it won’t happen at all.
It will be somebody who is a member of the Diplomatic Service!
Perhaps nobody should put any faith in what theories John Soper is musing on.

maddyone Mon 08-Jul-19 22:58:34

.....no way Nigel Farage could replace.......