MP: Soft Power Closures make no sense
During Prime Minister’s Questions in the House of Commons this afternoon, John asked,
“On Monday the Foreign Secretary agreed with me that we needed to expand our soft power capabilities at this uncertain period. Yet the Government is imminently about to take a funding decision which may require closures to the British Council network, and therefore a reduction in its international footprint. Will my Rt Hon Friend intervene to ensure this does not happen, as I know he understands and fully appreciates the good work the Council does?”
The Prime Minister responded that the British Council does excellent work, and offered to meet John to discuss British Council funding.
John said afterwards,
“I am looking forward to meeting the Prime Minister. Building links between Britain and other countries is especially important at the moment, and it makes no sense that the Government may be about to carry out damaging cuts to one of our primary soft power tools – especially when countries are expanding their networks.”
