Tory leadership race – live: Johnson under fire after ambassador resigns, as Labour face questions over antisemitism probes
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Conservative MPs rounded on Boris Johnson after it emerged that the US ambassador had decided to resign in the wake of the senior Tory's lack of support.
Sir Kim Darroch said his job had become “impossible” after the leak of diplomatic memos highly critical of Donald Trump’s administration.
His decision is understood to have been made after Mr Johnson repeatedly refused to support him during a televised Tory leadership debate on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Labour denied claims senior figures in the party interfered with anti-semitism complaints as a BBC Panorama documentary was set to air at 9pm.
A Labour spokesman accused the broadcaster of “pre-determining” the outcome of its investigation – while the broadcaster claimed the party was “criticising a programme they have not seen”.
See below for live updates
Boris Johnson has refused to say he would keep Sir Kim Darroch as Britain’s ambassador to the US if he became prime minister.
During a live television debate between the two Tory candidates to become the next prime minister, the former foreign secretary initially evaded the question and refused to commit himself on Sir Kim’s fate, but when pressed said he wouldn’t be “presumptuous”.
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Foreign office minister Sir Alan Duncan has branded Boris Johnson an "utter wimp" for refusing to stand up for Sir Kim Darroch, the embattled UK ambassador to the US.
Theresa May is preparing for one of her final appearances at prime minister's questions at midday. The PM is expected to deliver her last PMQs on 24 July - after her successor will have been announced.
Here are the MPs who have secured a question for the PM.
BREAKING NEWS: Sir Kim Darroch has resigned as British ambassador to the United States.
In a letter to Sir Simon McDonald, the permanent under secretary at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Sir Kim wrote: "Since the leak of official documents from this Embassy there has been a great deal of speculation surrounding my position and the duration of my remaining term as ambassador. I want to put an end to that speculation.
"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.
"I am grateful to all those in the UK and the US, who have offered their support during this difficult few days. This has brought home to me the depth of friendship and close ties between our two countries. I have been deeply touched.
"I am also grateful to all those with whom I have worked over the last four decades, particularly my team here in the US. The professionalism and integrity of the British civil service is the envy of the world. I will leave it full of confidence that its values remain in safe hands."
PMQs is underway.
Theresa May pays tribute to Sir Kim Darroch for his lifetime of service to the UK and says she offered him her full support. It is a matter of 'great regret' to her that he had to resign.
Ms May said: “The whole Cabinet rightly gave its full support to Sir Kim on Tuesday. Sir Kim has given a lifetime of service to the United Kingdom and we owe him an enormous debt of gratitude.
“Good government depends on public servants being able to give full and frank advice. I want all our public servants to have the confidence to be able to do that and I hope the House will reflect on the importance of defending our values and principles particularly when they are under pressure.”
Jeremy Corbyn says he regrets Sir Kim's departure and the criticism about him were "unfair and wrong".
He told PMQs: “I too regret the resignation of Sir Kim Darroch. I think the comments made about him were beyond unfair and wrong. I think he has given honourable and good service and he should be thanked for it.
“I think the whole House should join together in deeply regretting the feeling he has obviously got that he must resign at this moment.”
The Labour leader asks May about cuts to legal aid and whether it has helped her fight against burning injustices.
May says it is not only about access to the legal system and if Labour cared so much, they should have done more when they were in government.
Corbyn quotes a 71-year-old member of the public called Marcus, who is threatened with eviction and struggling to collect evidence to challenge the decision.
May says quarter of the Ministry of Justice budget is spent on legal aid - but that is only "one part of the picture".
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