Boris Johnson, a self-styled unorthodox renegade, is considering a shortlist of three candidates to be the next ambassador to Washington drawn from the conventional worlds of the British civil service, the diplomatic service, and the Royal Household, according to two sources.
The contenders are Baron Geidt, who until 2017 was private secretary to Queen Elizabeth II; Sir Mark Sedwill, the head of the civil service; and Dame Karen Pierce, the British permanent representative to the United Nations.
Johnson’s populist approach to delivering Brexit had provoked speculation that he might look beyond the usual establishment figures to appoint a figure such as Nigel Farage, the country’s most prominent Brexiteer, or the sort of self-made business leader who could strike a tough trade deal with President Trump.
Instead, two diplomatic sources said the shortlist had taken on a rather more conventional air than expected.
One said Christopher Geidt, who joined the Royal Household in 2002 after a distinguished military career, was the front-runner. “The state visit was such a success this year that the feeling was someone with royal connections would go down very well with Donald Trump,” said the British source.
“That said, the calculation may very well change if it looks as if Trump is not going to win reelection.” The successful candidate will be replacing Sir Kim Darroch who resigned in July after a leak of diplomatic cables in which he characterized the Trump administration as “inept and insecure.”
The breach sparked a diplomatic row, with Trump declaring, “We’re not big fans of that man.” The shortlist suggests the next ambassador will follow a familiar pattern. The last 10, covering a span of 40 years, have been career diplomats and Knights of the Realm.
Pierce has won admirers for a no-nonsense approach at the U.N., where she has clashed repeatedly with Russian representatives over Middle East tensions and the nerve agent attack in the United Kingdom. She was the first woman to be appointed British ambassador, and the prime minister is said to be a fan of her style.
Sedwill had long been considered a front-runner for the role once Darroch’s natural rotation came to an end. He currently works closely with Johnson as Cabinet secretary. Sedwill was previously national security adviser and before that Britain’s ambassador to Afghanistan.
The Brexit crisis means the incoming ambassador will face the crucial role of helping negotiate a free trade agreement with Washington.
