David Lammy launched his much-vaunted “UK Soft Power Council” in January – soon after that the UK dropped down below China for the first time in much-watched soft power rankings. Good start…
A parliamentary question has revealed that £20,000 has been so far allocated to the council in the current financial year, which has done nothing apart from launch. Amazingly £7,258 in taxpayer cash was spent for its first meeting on “AV, pull-up banners, tea, coffee, water and biscuits as well as Government Hospitality staffing costs.” Below is a photo of the “pull-up banner” used. So it’s £7,000 on tea and biscuits…
Naturally the FCDO also had to host a “one-off reception for 175 people to mark the launch of the Council and the Government’s new approach to soft power.” Is the ‘council’ just an excuse for a party…
Labour says it’s “establishing a Secretariat to support the Council and its Working Groups as part of broader soft power structures.” More civil servants on the way then – don’t tell Starmer…
Former leader of the SNP in Westminster Ian Blackford told Times Radio why he believes Nicola Sturgeon’s claim that she spent no time in the kitchen and therefore didn’t see any of her husband’s purchases:
“She doesn’t have a passion for cooking.”
