Debates between Bernard Jenkin and Alan Duncan during the 2017-2019 Parliament

Mon 8th Jul 2019

UK Ambassador to USA: Leaked Emails

Debate between Bernard Jenkin and Alan Duncan
Monday 8th July 2019

(5 years, 5 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Alan Duncan Portrait Sir Alan Duncan
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I have to say to the right hon. Gentleman that I have been rather puzzled over the weekend about what the motivation could be, because any kind of scenario I put into my head does not seem to add up. On his question, that will of course be for the inquiry. I would merely point out that one of the leaked documents was from two years ago and three were from about eight to 10 days ago.

Bernard Jenkin Portrait Sir Bernard Jenkin (Harwich and North Essex) (Con)
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Does my right hon. Friend share my confidence that this episode is most unlikely to have any lasting effect on our relationship either with this Administration or with the United States in general? May I commend the Government for taking the right tack, which is to condemn the leaker and to back our diplomat?

Alan Duncan Portrait Sir Alan Duncan
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I certainly condemn the leaker, and I certainly back our ambassador and his entire team in what is an excellent embassy. I very much hope that this causes no upset. I imagine that some of the reports from the US embassy in London will be saying some quite interesting things about the state of our politics. That will not necessarily represent the view of the ambassador or the US Administration; it will be people reporting from post back to the capital about what they think is going on. That is what they are there to do.