As geopolitics takes an increasingly ominous turn in the age of Trump, the government has been focusing on what has been seen as a traditional British diplomatic strength. Earlier this month, the foreign secretary, David Lammy, and the culture secretary, Lisa Nandy, announced the creation of a “soft power council”, aimed at boosting the UK’s reach and reputation abroad.
At a time of growing global insecurity and mistrust, it makes sense to mobilise influential figures from industries such as sport and music to help deepen relationships and forge partnerships abroad. Far more difficult to understand is the simultaneous neglect of an institution that has been a world leader in the soft power game for nine decades. Set up to promote understanding of Britain through cultural and educational cooperation with countries all over the world, the British Council has doubled as a powerful ambassador for liberal and democratic values. Yet at a time when these are under renewed threat globally, its depth of expertise and range of connections risk being squandered.
