Trumped

The third Brexit blog of the day, and a follow up on the controversy regarding the comments from the UK Ambassador to the USA.

It seems that there is a strong possibility that someone outside the UK leaked the communications. Suspicion is on Mr Putin, and questions were raised in the Commons yesterday. The documents and comments were of such a nature that if leaked by someone in the FCO they would need to be very senior.

But the reporter who works for the Mail on Sunday as strong links to Aaron Banks and a certain Mr Farrage.

How odd.

And then there is the reaction.

Three years ago, President Obama was asked about a UK trade deal with the US, and remarked that the UK would be at the back of the line. This created a storm that a foreign leader would intervene in UK domestic politics.

Fast forward three years and the current President, the subject of the comments, is doing everything to live upto what the Ambassador said. Undermining the current PM and suggesting who would make a better Ambassador to the US, a certain, looks at notes, Mr Farrage.

Trump also criticises the current PM, and her handling of Brexit, saying she would not listen to his adivce. Let us not forget that his advice was to sue the EU. Under what conditions and in what court such action should be conducted was left unclear. Mainly because it was bollocks. As is most things Trump says.

Trump responded to claims that he was insecure by responding with a puerile three tweet attack on the UK Ambassador. At least that's cleared up.

What happens now will shape Government policy. May has said she had full confidence in the Ambassador, though, of course that could change tomorrow, or by the end of the month when Johnson or Hunt becomes leader and possibly PM. Or not.

If Johnson replaces the Ambassador for a Brexiteer or someone more pliable, then what does that say about the safeguarding of the UK's interests abroad when another country's leader can successful dictate who can and cannot be a representative in that country.

A very slippery slope.