UK PM hopeful Johnson risks being a US 'patsy' if he prompted envoy resignation: Labour

Boris Johnson, frontrunner to become next prime minister, would be the "patsy" of U.S. President Donald Trump if his lack of support for British ambassador Kim Darroch prompted his resignation, a Labour spokesman said on Wednesday.

The opposition party spokesman said he was referring to reports that it was Johnson's reluctance to express support for Darroch in a war of words with Trump that had prompted the ambassador to resign.

"If that's the case I think it's clear that Boris Johnson is effectively behaving as Donald Trump's patsy and he's doing that clearly because he is banking on a sweetheart trade deal and is putting himself in hock to the U.S. president," the spokesman told reporters.