The Social Liberal Forum’s highly successful online programme continues on Monday 22nd February with Britain in a Post-Trump, Post-Brexit World. Our two guests are William Wallace-well known to Lib Dem Voice readers- and Professor Anand Menon. You can register for free by following this link to the SLF website: Britain in a Post-Trump, post-Brexit World .
Professor Anand Menon is the Director of the UK in a Changing Europe and Professor of European Politics and Foreign Affairs at Kings College, London.
This will be a wide ranging discussion about the UK, its foreign policy and relations, the projection of its soft power. Is Global Britain more than just a sound bite? How should the UK promote its foreign policy objectives? What should they be? Is there room for a distinctive liberal vision?
There SLF has published a couple of important articles that are relevant to this discussion. Richard Corbett, formerly Leader of the Labour Group in the European Parliament, explains why the Brexit arrangements are far from complete. He draws attention to the fact that almost nothing is settled for services (80% of the UK economy). Looking at financial services: in the next months, the unresolved issue of access for British financial services to the EU market will come to a head. At stake are thousands of jobs and billions of pounds of tax revenue.
Stephen Farry, the Alliance MP for North Down, has also written about Brexit and the implications of the Northern Ireland protocol. Brexit, he tells us, has destabilised an already fragile Northern Ireland. The Alliance Party did not advocate the Protocol. They opposed the Withdrawal Agreement, including the Protocol, when it was voted upon in both the House of Commons and the European Parliament. Better options existed for addressing the particular challenges posed to Northern Ireland from Brexit.
If you have not logged on to any of the SLF online events take a look at our last webinar – Vince Cable in discussion with TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady exploring Priorities for a New Economy – Social Liberal Forum
In the coming weeks the SLF has planned more online events, we very much hope you will be able to join us.
* Iain Brodie Browne is Chair of the Social Liberal Forum and has been a councillor since 1984.
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3 Comments
The problem in the choice of the Latin word ‘post’ assumes that both Trump and Brexit will be behind us. As far as the former is concerned, mortality and criminal prosecutions might do the trick; but Trumpism in all its unpleasant forms may be a permanent fixture, and not just in the USA, unless we make what we understand to be democracy work for all people no matter where they live. That requires consensus, constraints and compassion. As for the latter, mortality is not a factor. It will probably be with us in one hopefully containable form or another for ever. The three ‘c’s’ clearly apply here as well. Above all, we need to learn our lessons. We need to be vigilant, cautious even, to respect the natural world and literally to give it space to breathe and, above all, we need to highlight injustice in all its forms and do something about it instead of just wringing our hands and virtue signaling (or even, perish the thought, just relying on passing motions at ‘Conference’).
I often like to end my homilies with reference to popular music. Today’s refers to that great song from the 1970’s by The Who, “Don’t Get Fooled Again”. For those of you old enough, just remember the final line; “Meet the new boss, the same as the old boss”!
We need a distinct post Brexit foreign policy. Supporting the people of Hong Kong is a good start. Outside the eu we should use our diplomatic skills to forge alliances especially in Africa and MENA to tackle global issues such as climate change. We should campaign for a collaborative, pragmatic and humanitarian stance to our foreign policy.
A cynical view:
The Progressive party want to give your money to the people who voted for Brexit.
The non-Progressive party wants to give your money to the people who paid & campaigned for Brexit.