Cameron’s foreign policy is music to the ears of a resurgent FCO

Chris Rose

This is a clear case for spending our money on our foreign affairs, not on the EU's. What benefit will all the EU legations around the world bring us, or indeed any member state?

Commentator

Sounds like the political class and their hangers-on trying to cling to the outmoded trappings of the Edwardian good life, on the flimsy pretext that commerce can only be promoted by playing at being the Viceroy of India. I cannot believe India could care less about how fancy the British Embassy is.

Autonomous Mind

Does this mean we will be able to negotiate trade deals on our own behalf, even though we are part of a customs union - the EU - that enforces common tariffs?

yank

No offense, Mr. Blackburn, but diplomats can't sell top end manufacturing at all, whether from poolside or from a hut. Generally, they don't know manufacturing from breakfast.

Now, if you're talking about greasing the skids, and doing whatever is necessary, Megrahi style, then I think I understand.

Go for it, but call it what it is.

Wullie

@Commentator - that's because you're 'emoting' rather than 'thinking'.

Magnus

Well Commentator, you'd be silly to believe that wouldn't you. Looking the part is half the battle.

Mount Bat On

@ Commentator, the Indians needn't worry then, the New Delhi Embassy is nothing to get that excited about; behind all the trappings of security it's barely visible anyway! The High Commissioner's residence on the other hand is a glorious, Lutyen's designed abode.

Chuck Unsworth

Good. Trade is as important as defence - the two are virtually interchangeable. It'd be good to see first class trade representation out there on the ground, rather than in some pathetic Whitehall empire.

I worked with FCO many years ago and many of the diplomats were stunningly good at opening leads and providing hard local commercial intelligence - even though some of the more stupid were too fastidious to sully their fingers with trade. I hope we've not lost those skills completely.

Koakona

I get involved in a lot of my companies selling of its office space, BPO offshore, and a lot of the battle is won before the get to the presentations as they see how good our office is. People shouldn't but people do judge a book by its cover. Our government should use this to help our economic, political and cultural prestige high around the world.

James

Obviously there is a smart way to project the correct image whilst saving money. Sell the embassies and hire rooms when required.

TrevorsDen

The article says the Malay embassy might be moved, not the Indian one.

Of course we have trade deals outside of the EU - ever heard of all the arms we sell to Saudi?

Of course diplomats can't sell anything - companies do that - but clearly diplomacy can pave the way. Thats obvious.

But equally obviously far too many people don't think they just stay clogged up in their rut.

As far as I am concerned oiling the wheels of commerce is exactly what the FO should be doing.

Aaron Hugh Ellis

My thoughts

http://thinkstrat.wordpress.com/2010/07/26/looking-for-the-%E2%80%98grand-strategy%E2%80%99-in-an-anglo-indian-partnership/

maddy1

If you have a good product people will buy it! Arguably, the Malaysian not Malay(an) Embassy is irrelevent to Modern KL business ergonomics. Our fat cats do not like crossing water!

strapworld

But, to be fair, the FCO has been attempting to oil the wheels of commerce. But it is because the previous administration had that way down their list of priorities it was never given the priority the Coalition are obviously giving it.

If we want more jobs we have to be able to sell. Perhaps this is the beginning of something quite remarkable!

lola

Whilst we're about it, and if we really want to rebuild our international prestige, why not bring back HMS Britannia?

Tarka the Rotter

Cameron is now pushing for Turkey to be admitted to the EU - one colossal mistake of the first order. He says he is 'very passionate' about it. The French are not. Never thought I'd say it but I'm with the French.

Paul B

So if its alright for Governments to smooze foreign companies & diplomats, why was it not right for BAA?

Chuck Unsworth

@ Tarka

Don't take that at face value.

Ricky

Yes....this is the same FCO that under Hague has insisted on retaining Robin Cooks racist dictat that no white English male shall gain an Internship there. It's also the same Camel Corps that berated Israel (but not Jordan or Egypt) for protecting itself against Hamastan.

Then, of course, it's the CamerBlair Coalition that intends to hold on to Hattie Harpics insane "Equalities" legislation.

Worse still, the Hague-CamerBlair FCO is committed to fundamentalist Turkey joining the EUSSR, despite being a potential basket case like Pakistan with it's expansionist policies, it's war crimes against the Kurds and it's intolerance towards it's Jewish population, it's appalling human rights record and it's sinister intelligence ops.

CamerBlair - there are other battles to be won with the EUSSR, not this one. 80 millions Turks will fundamentally alter the European heritage for ever. Once again our Liberal Elite care nothing for protecting the essential character & nature of Europe. Or that of our own country.

CamerBlair could be up to no good - just like his role models, Tony Blair - Millionaire and the dreadful Edward Heath (our own version of Jimmy Carter).

Playing games with our future.....he needs close watching.

RMH

The British Council must be happy, a commerce wheels a greasing they are good at,