Anger over calls to tear down the Foreign Office’s ‘elitist’ pictures
RISHI Sunak last night led criticism of former diplomats and mandarins who have called for the ‘elitist’ Foreign Office to be abolished.
no 10 rejected demands by the excivil servants for a major rebrand of the ministry, including ‘colonial era pictures’ being taken off the walls of its grand headquarters.
downing Street said the Prime Minister is proud of Britain’s history and insisted that the Foreign, Commonwealth and development Office (FCDO) is doing important work to promote the country’s interests abroad.
asked about the controversial new report that accused david Cameron’s department of being ‘ rooted in the past’, the PM’s official spokesman said: ‘i don’t think he would agree with that assessment at all.
‘The Foreign Office is doing vital work to protect and promote UK interests abroad and he supports the work of the Foreign Office and the Foreign Secretary in achieving those objectives.’
The pamphlet – written by former Cabinet Secretary lord Sedwill, and former diplomats Moazzam Malik and Tom Fletcher – calls for a radical reform of UK foreign policy to reflect the country’s ‘ less influential’ place in the world.
it said Britain’s attempts to project an image of greatness to the world ‘seems anachronistic’ and that we should not try to ‘see ourselves as the leader’ in tackling global challenges.
instead, the country should show greater ‘self-awareness’ and ‘humility.
Rather than seeing itself as on a par with Germany and France, Britain should accept it is a ‘mid-sized power’ with ‘ much to learn’ from the likes of norway and Switzerland.
The report also says the UK cannot ‘ brush aside concerns’ about its ‘ historical legacy’, warning: ‘ Former colonies are making increasingly vocal demands around the need for reparations from colonialism.’
it is scathing about the FCDO, saying its ‘very name’ is ‘anchored in the past’, while its buildings off Whitehall show it is ‘somewhat elitist’.
‘Modernising premises – perhaps with fewer colonial era pictures on the walls – might help create a more open working culture and send a clear signal about Britain’s future?’ it adds.
The ministry itself should be rebranded as the department for international affairs (or Global
‘Britain is a mid-size power’
affairs UK) to ‘signal a forwardlooking ambition’.
The report also accuses the ministry of ‘struggling to deliver a clear mandate, prioritisation and resource allocation’.
‘The Foreign Office all too often operates like a giant private office for the Foreign Secretary of the day, responding to the minister’s immediate concerns and everchanging in-tray,’ it says.
The authors suggest a replacement department should be given new goals, including ‘addressing climate change and biodiversity loss’ and ‘championing rights and responsibilities’, as well as promoting UK prosperity.
a new target should be set of spending 1 per cent of gross national income on its priorities, including ‘ climate’ as well as development and humanitarian aid overseas.
an FCDO spokesman said: ‘We are maximising the benefits of merging diplomacy and development to better deal with global challenges, as seen in our responses to Russia’s invasion of ukraine and in the Middle East. We are committed to having an even greater impact and influence on the world stage.’
Former Cabinet minister Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg said: ‘ it is extraordinary that the civil service churns out such wet apologists who are embarrassed by the historic glories of the nation that feeds them.’
Tory MP Ranil Jayawardena, a member of the foreign affairs committee, added: ‘Britain continues to play an important role in the world, as exemplified by lord Cameron’s work right now.
‘Many great diplomats are supporting him and the Government to build greater influence at this critical time.’
Bob Seely, also a member of the foreign affairs committee, said the report had ‘interesting ideas’ which were ‘ hidden beneath cliched and negative thinking’. He added: ‘To describe the UK as a mid-size power is nonsense and prevents a clear assessment of our strengths and weaknesses.
‘ Maybe we could live up to the self- confidence of the past, rather than feel the need to keep sniping at it.
‘We need more reminders of greatness, not less.’