Committees

Government Response: A brave new Britain? The future of the UK's international policy

14 January 2021

The Foreign Affairs Committee has published the Government Response to its Report 'A Brave new Britain? The future of the UK's international policy'.

Chair's comment

"I am pleased to see the recommendations made in our recent Report have been adopted by the government. We need to see the Integrated Review take on more of these ideas to help the UK establish itself on the world stage in a confident, clear and coherent way.

Our inquiry backed UK diplomacy as the key instrument in an interconnected world but pushed for a consistent strategy to overcome the challenges we face. The government clearly accepts this point as the Integrated Review would not be necessary otherwise, but without a plan and corresponding budgets to support it, the UK cannot coherently respond to such challenges or remain confident in its delivery of Global Britain.

It is encouraging to see that the government agrees with us, establishing a tech envoy, and outlining the UK’s ambition to be a standard setter, establishing rules and regulations, for the ‘frontier’ spaces and technologies that will most affect all of our futures: digital, data, cyberspace and outer space. Developments here should, and will, be underpinned by UK leadership.

In a debate on 'Global Britain' earlier this week, ministers also announced plans to bring together 'a coalition of like-minded nations to advance high standards worldwide' a key recommendation of our report.

The government also sees an opportunity to enhance the UK’s role in conflict resolution and atrocity prevention, coordinating across departments and echoing the need for effective coordination within government and beyond, in order to bring to bear the collective strengths of UK soft power.

We now want to see the Integrated Review published, as it will serve as the roadmap that will guide the UK as we bring together the full range of proven assets to cement our role as a powerful diplomatic presence, essential partner, and trusted ally, enhancing our international reputation in the years to come."

Committee recommendations

  1. Does 'tilt to the Indo-Pacific' building off a strong partnership with Europe
    The Government Response says that the tilt to the Indo-Pacific will be outlined in the Integrated Review, and additional funding has been announced for bolstering diplomatic ties with Europe.

  2. Deepens strategic coordination between the Department for International Trade (DIT) and the FCDO
    The Government Response says that trade will be a leading way in which the UK contributes to the world, with UK Ambassadors having a key supervisory role.

  3. Deploys its mediation, conflict resolution, and atrocity prevention capabilities
    The Government Response sees an opportunity to enhance the UK’s role in conflict resolution and atrocity prevention, coordinating across Government (including with the Ministry of Defence) as the report recommends.

  4. Publishes a coherent, resourced 'soft power' strategy bringing together the UK’s tools of influence, from law and education to training missions and trade
    The Government Response agreed on the need for effective coordination within government and beyond.

  5. Convenes and catalyses negotiations to reform multilateral organisations
    The Government Response agrees, and outlines work by the Government to reform a variety of such organisations.

  6. Acts with nimble coalitions of like-minded nations to counter threats and realise
    The Government agrees and, in the debate on ‘Global Britain’ held on 11 January, for example, the Government announced plans to bring together “a coalition of like-minded nations to advance high standards worldwide” when it came to trade.

  7. Delivers on its commitment to prioritise the existential issues of climate change and global health security
    The Government Response details how the UK plans to do this.

  8. Works with the world to agree regulations for frontier spheres such as cyberspace and outer space.
    The Government Response establishes the UK’s ambition to be a setter or norms and regulations "for many frontier technologies, space and science".

Further information

Image: Parliamentary copyright