Sir Kim Darroch has resigned as UK ambassador to the US, as a row over leaked emails critical of President Trump’s administration escalates.
Theresa May said Sir Kim’s departure was “a matter of deep regret” after the ambassador said it was “impossible” for him to continue.
Tory leadership candidate Boris Johnson has faced strong criticism for failing to fully support him.
President Trump said on Monday that the US would not deal with Sir Kim.
The US president had branded him “a very stupid guy” after confidential emails emerged where the ambassador had called his administration “clumsy and inept”.
In a letter to the Foreign Office, Sir Kim said he wanted to end speculation about his position: “The current situation is making it impossible for me to carry out my role as I would like.
“Although my posting is not due to end until the end of this year, I believe in the current circumstances the responsible course is to allow the appointment of a new ambassador.”
The leak was described as “malicious” by head of the diplomatic service Sir Simon McDonald, who told Sir Kim: “You are the best of us.”
He told the Commons’ foreign affairs committee it was the first time in his career that a head of state had refused to work with a British ambassador.
Mrs May said Sir Kim had had the full backing of the cabinet and he was owed an “enormous debt of gratitude” for his “lifetime of service” to the UK.
Public servants should be able to give “full and frank advice”, she said, adding that it was important to defend “our values and principles, particularly when they are under pressure”.
His resignation has prompted widespread support for Sir Kim while some have questioned Tory frontrunner Boris Johnson’s stance.
BBC diplomatic correspondent James Landale said he understood Sir Kim decided to resign after watching Mr Johnson refuse to support him during the Tory leadership debate on Tuesday night.
It’s understood that Mr Johnson spoke to Sir Kim on the phone on Wednesday afternoon.
Mr Johnson was asked repeatedly by fellow leadership candidate Jeremy Hunt whether he would keep Sir Kim in post if he became prime minister, but refused to answer.
Following Sir Kim’s resignation, Mr Johnson said he was “a superb diplomat” and whoever was responsible for the leak “has done a grave disservice to our civil servants”.
Asked why he was not more supportive of Sir Kim, he said it was “wrong to drag civil servants into the political arena”.
Source: BBC.com