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In a pamphlet recently published by the Fabian Society, the Shadow Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, provided further detail for his vision of ‘Britain Reconnected’. The phrase, first coined in a January speech at Chatham House, signifies Lammy’s ambition to ‘take back control’ – mentioned directly in the speech and pamphlet – and deliver ‘security and prosperity at home’.
The 44-page document begins with a familiar assessment: the world confronting the UK is one of growing geopolitical competition, with states weaponising their interdependencies in a manner which collapses the boundary between foreign and domestic policy. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and subsequent weaponisation of energy supplies is emblematic of such trends.
Lammy suggests that responding to this world requires a repurposed and revitalised Foreign Office. Consequently, a Labour-led Foreign Office would work under a new mission statement designed around five goals in the areas of security, prosperity, climate, development and diplomacy.
While not quite at the level of Robin Cook’s foreign policy with an ethical dimension, values still appear to inform significant components of Lammy’s approach to foreign policy. Indeed, where New Labour made expansive commitments to promote liberal values, human rights, and democracy, Britain Reconnected is more restrained. Key goals include promoting the rule of law and upholding the international system.
This framing seeks to contrast Labour’s vision with the Conservative’s post-Brexit foreign policy, which, Lammy argues, has left Britain disconnected. He draws attention to the fractious state of Johnson-and-Truss-era relations with Europe, alongside actions like the cut in official development assistance, spending aid domestically on the asylum system, and axing the BBC World Service.
To redress these issues, Lammy suggests several substantive areas where a Labour approach would be quite different to the current government.
For instance, on development, Labour would produce a new strategy that rejects the government ‘aid for trade’ approach, with Lammy suggesting in the pamphlet Q&A that he would like to see a return to spending 0.7% of Gross National Income on aid in the first term of a Labour government.
On climate, the UK would enact a Clean Power Alliance and push for climate action to be recognised as the fourth pillar of the UN. While on diplomacy, Labour would push for a UK-EU security pact and create a Transatlantic Anti-Corruption Council.
In the pamphlet and Q&A, Lammy stressed the need to assess the fiscal climate when entering office before making firm commitments. Nevertheless, he suggests that Labour should be trusted based on the record of previous Labour governments. To this end, there are many approving mentions of New Labour’s international relations record....
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