Unspeakable truths: Britain’s US ambassador
The Intelligence from The Economist
The Economist
4.5 • 3.7K Ratings
🗓️ 11 July 2019
⏱️ 24 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
The “special relationship” has been strained this week, following the leak of frank diplomatic cables. The conditions of Sir Kim Darroch’s departure are a window into both Britain’s current politics and its future. International development projects don’t always work, and often the problem is scale: what works for a few may not work for many. And, why, in a country with a riot of regional accents, do almost all British politicians sound the same?
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| 0:55.6 | With small trials to test policy ideas, they often end when what worked among a few dozen |
| 1:01.2 | fails miserably among thousands. And have a listen to top flight British politicians. |
| 1:08.5 | Even though Britain shores contain a wildly diverse set of accents, |
| 1:12.3 | in the halls of power it all sounds very southeastern. Our language columnist asks why. |
| 1:26.1 | But first, |
| 1:34.7 | inept, uniquely dysfunctional, diplomatically clumsy, incoherent and chaotic policy. |
| 1:42.2 | These frank assessments of the Trump administration from Britain's ambassador to America, |
| 1:46.3 | Sir Kim Derrick, were never intended to see the light of day. But over the weekend, |
| 1:50.9 | a mysterious leak of diplomatic cables put them at center stage. Yesterday, Sir Kim resigned. |
| 1:57.4 | In Britain's parliament, there was a rare moment of agreement between Prime Minister Theresa May |
| 2:01.7 | and the opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn. This morning, I have spoken to Sir Kim Derrick. |
| 2:07.2 | I have told him that it is a matter of great regret that he has felt it necessary to leave his |
| 2:12.3 | position as ambassador in Washington. I think the comments made about him are beyond unfair and wrong. |
| 2:20.2 | I think he has given honourable and good service and he should be thanked for it. |
| 2:24.5 | Never one to let a slight go on answered, |
| 2:26.8 | President Donald Trump lashed out against the ambassador, calling him among other things a very |
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