Forum Topic

Our useless Foreign Secretaries

What is it with them? We've had three disasters in a row:- Boris Johnson foolishly said that Nazanin Zaghari-Radcliffe was in Iran to teach journalists;- Raab didn't realise until he was FS that Dover was important in out trade with Europe; and-Truss knew so little that she thought Voronezh and Rostov-on-Don were in Ukraine.The first of these has bad very serious consequences, whilst the other two just show up shallow, ignorant people who are unfit to do the job. No wonder the UK has become such a laughing stock!

Richard Carter ● 1451d23 Comments

But Thomas, Truss is not a 'kid' or an averagely (mis)informed person, but our Foreign Secretary, and as such she should surely know the difference between the Black Sea and the Baltic Sea - or, indeed, the Barents Sea or the Borneo Sea.One thing this farce has suggested: Truss can't have done her chances of winning the leadership,even amongst Conservative Party members, so there is some consolation.

Richard Carter ● 1445d

As many people in the country, surely, the world would struggle to tell you what the characteristics of the Black and Baltic sea are. Christ, most kids find history boring in the class to the degree that I can make a WWII joke to do with constant leaks and they're drawing a blank. Then asking the all important question of who won the war, they think we were fighting the Soviets at the time. So, it's perhaps miscommunication, misspoken or they're getting briefings from so many different sources regarding so many different subjects, they got confused.Because whilst this is going on, the press have forgotten about Taiwan and the Intelligence community over there would love this attention to put China in it's very large box.

Thomas Jones ● 1445d

"when things get worse the UK will be first to accept a fresh wave of refugees."A typo there, I think Ed: given our rotten record in accepting refugees, surely you meant 'last' rather than 'first'?

Richard Carter ● 1447d

Surely NATO's credibility is as damaged as Putin's given the various fiascos during the last few decades.talking up the war has destabilised the Ukraine economy no doubt when things get worse the UK will be first to accept a fresh wave of refugees.

Ed Robinson ● 1447d

I totally agree with you Michael.  When Russia took Crimea, a colleague of mine at the time, who happened to be Russian, had total admiration of Putin and, as she said, after all, Russia needs access to the sea..... ????Putin is a very dangerous adversary, he is incredibly cunning, ruthless and vindictive as you say (I maintain he sees himself as the XXI century Genghis Khan).  Sadly, none of the Western Leaders are a match to his cunning, politically and diplomatically.Will he invade Ukraine?  I do not know, but it would not surprise me if he wants to have all Eastern European countries back under his wing as well as Ukraine....  We shall have to wait and see but we are not a very encouraging times...Know your enemy?  Absolutely.  Unfortunately, Johnson and Truss know it all and do not read their briefings?

Ivonne Holliday ● 1447d

I suppose we are slightly off topic now but it is difficult to work out Putin's motives. I guess he does feel threatened by NATO and the attempt by his stooge Trump to weaken the alliance has obviously failed. I guess what's at stake now is his ego? His troop movements have had a stream of western leaders going to meet with him and he's obviously used that for PR at home. I suppose he and Johnson have one thing in common - they'll both go to any length to remain in power so he probably understands Johnson putting of a phone call to deal with "party gate"? I'm sure he doesn't really want to invade Ukraine - the bodies coming home won't be good for his popularity and he could be bogged down there for a long time; on the other hand he's ruthless and vindictive - look at the Salisbury poisonings - so he'd probably go for an attack if his ego is dented too much? Not sure how sanctions would play out - he might lose the support of other oligarchs if they're disadvantaged, he needs the gas money but Europe needs fuel. The biggest danger is that someone makes a mistake on the ground or an off hand  moment; unfortunately, the track record of Johnson and the knowledge of Truss makes one worry ... diplomatically they're no match for Putin and his experience hardened team. Rule #1 - know your enemy?

Michael Ixer ● 1448d

Well Paul, what does your reply got to do with useless Foreign Secretaries?You say that, meanwhile, in the real world they (who is they?) are standing up to Putin as they are getting the big things right.So, what you are really saying is that the UK and Brexit are utopia.

Ivonne Holliday ● 1448d

And the link https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-60390800

Michael Ixer ● 1448d

Well, it looks like staying in the single market has been good for NI. Perhaps the way to solve the Protocol mess is for the rest of the UK to move back into the single market? Is there a better solution for resolving the NI Protocol and the Irish sea border that Johnson agreed to, if so, what is it?

Michael Ixer ● 1448d

"Meanwhile in the real world they are standing up to Putin"Apparently there my be a escalation in sanctions - some reports even suggest that Conservative Party donations may even be impacted.That will tell them!https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-report-donors-boris-johnson-conservative-party-2020-7?r=US&IR=T

Ed Robinson ● 1448d

Lord Adonis says when Boris goes brexit goes. Keep clinging to that. It's your latest hope. Not that it will work but that's what's happens when you're desperate. Meanwhile in the real world they are standing up to Putin. Not that he will invade anyway because he would lose. But they are doing the right thing anyway. They are getting the big things right.

Paul Rolink ● 1448d

"I am not too sure you can blame David Miliband for the Chagos Islands disaster which happened in 1966."I was making the link between David Miliband use of the islands and their previous exploitation.A couple of articles that illustrate the point around David Miliband:https://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/feb/21/ciarendition.usahttps://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/david-miliband-rushed-in-chagos-islands-protection-order-9776069.html

Ed Robinson ● 1449d

I am not too sure you can blame David Miliband for the Chagos Islands disaster which happened in 1966.

Ivonne Holliday ● 1449d

Coming back to the original post - I looked back at some of the previous FS and after a quick google I was reminded of things I had forgotten or didn't known.In most cases we didn't find out the truth until years even decades later.To take an example - David Miliband: US Cluster bomb scandals and the Chagos Islands US rendition flights.Not to mention the continuing the expulsion of those that were displaced by his decades before predecessor's and the gassing of thousand of their pets.Perhaps Liz with the hamster hat may be the lesser of the two evils?? Only time and a leak or two will tell!

Ed Robinson ● 1449d

Let's not forget Jeremy Hunt, who seemed to forget he was Health minister before the pandemic - plus one or two other things:"Why Jeremy Hunt's 'Japanese' wife gaffe is a bad mistake"https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-45004765

Ed Robinson ● 1450d

There are two different things here.  I am talking about useless Foreign Secretaries whose knowledge of other countries geography, culture and customs is woefully lacking.  May I add so do their knowledge of politics and diplomacy.  Non-existent!If you talk about Jack Straw you may as well talk about Lord Carrington and Francis Pym.I very much doubt that the events of 2003 were Jack Straw's making. Perhaps I am mistaken.But what was the FS's own doing:- Boris Johnson:  imprisonment of Nazanin Zaghari-Radcliffe- Dominic Raab:  going into Brexit negotiations with the EU without understanding the importance of Dover-Calais route for trade-  Liz Truss:  not understanding that Japanese people do not eat cheese on the whole and, more recently, not having a clue where the Baltic and Black Seas are as well as not having a clue where the regions of Voronezh and Rostovple are nor their importance to Russia.It is one embarrassment after the other!  Really appalling!

Ivonne Holliday ● 1450d

"Personally, I would say most Foreign Secretaries before Boris Johnson were suitable."Even Jack Straw in 2003? What happened that year?(I used the word "happened" rather loosely.)

David Ainsworth ● 1450d

There are a lot of good prospects for FS on Tory benches. Trouble is, in Johnson's view, only Brexiters can be trusted. Sure formula for 2nd/3rd raters getting the nod. Minnie Mouse would do better job than Truss.

Alexander MacLeod ● 1451d

People being promoted into key positions in which they have little or no experience and constantly playing musical chairs with Ministers in these placements doesn't help either.

Sue Hammond ● 1451d

I agree Richard and Michael.  They were/are such an embarrassment.

Ivonne Holliday ● 1451d

Hello Ed,Personally, I would say most Foreign Secretaries before Boris Johnson were suitable.  Since Johnson became FS to today, it has been a disaster, sadly!

Ivonne Holliday ● 1451d

Why stop there Richard?Who was the last one who got your approval?

Ed Robinson ● 1451d

The danger of group think? Johnson appointed and guides Raab and Truss? Truss also struggled with the difference between the Black and Baltic seas :-(I assume Ben Wallace went to Moscow to try and retrieve the situation? He seemed to have a slightly more constructive although still difficult conversation. 

Michael Ixer ● 1451d