Sir Nicholas Soames’s Question to the Foreign Secretary at Oral Questions

House of Commons

Tuesday 21^st November, 2017

Sir Nicholas Soames (Mid Sussex) (Con)

Does the Foreign Secretary agree that there are several very important preconditions for the successful expression of a global Britain? Does he agree that, quite apart from the need for a better-funded Foreign Office, there needs to be far more effective co-ordination and expression of Britain’s truly formidable soft power? [901937]

The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Boris Johnson)

My right hon. Friend raises the absolutely fascinating conundrum of how effectively the Government could marshal the extraordinary panoply of UK soft power. I never normally disagree with him in any way, but I tend to think that our soft power is so huge that it would not necessarily benefit from any political attempt to co-ordinate it. What I can say is that I believe the work of the British Council is often unsung, although it is hugely important. I think that all Members want to support that organisation and to see properly funded.

Tuesday 21 November 2017
Hansard
Volume 631
No 54
Col 853