UNITED KINGDOM
The United Kingdom is to open up some of its most prestigious diplomatic postings, including ambassadorships, to people who are not Public Servants, Foreign Secretary, Jeremy Hunt (pictured) has announced.
In an address to the Policy Exchange think-tank, Mr Hunt said it was wrong to “close our eyes to the approaches and skills of other industries”.
He also announced a drive to double the number of British diplomats who could speak a foreign language from 500 to 1,000 as part of a 10-year plan to reinvigorate UK diplomacy after the country leaves the European Union (Brexit).
“I want to project the UK as the invisible chain that links the world’s democracies in the face of a global threat to democracy,” Mr Hunt said.
Asked whether the move to bring in people from outside the Public Service was a step towards a US-style system that allowed cronyism, Mr Hunt said there would be absolutely no conflict of interest allowed.
“Anyone applying for these jobs will apply through normal Foreign Office processes, so we can make sure that proper independence is protected,” he said.
“There may be one or two posts where someone who is perhaps chief executive of a listed company, who has got strong links with another country, could do a brilliant job representing the UK, building up our trade with another country.”
The move was criticised by the FDA union, which represents senior PS employees.
FDA General Secretary, Dave Penman said the role of a diplomat in representing the UK’s interests abroad was much broader than simply trade, which was why they went through years of training to develop such a range of skills.
“That expertise already includes international trade,” Mr Penman said.
“To solely focus on this area risks undermining the UK’s interests and influence given the complexities of international relations.”
Efforts by Mr Hunt’s predecessor, Boris Johnson to promote a post-Brexit “Global Britain” policy were widely derided as lacking substance.
London, 2 November 2018
