If you have something to say...
Say it on the Huffington Post
If you have something to say...
Say it on the Huffington Post
The Blog
On 2 April, 1982, Argentina invaded The Falkland Islands, believing it had a historical right to re-claim the British protectorate, against the will of its pro-British citizens.
Under this Coalition government, the Foreign Office has a renewed sense of mission. It is a mission to promote Britain's national interest, while tirelessly working for a world which is more secure, more stable, more free and more prosperous. In no area is this more relevant than the fight against climate change. Today ministers from more than 20 countries will meet in London with the goal of speeding up global progress on clean energy. I am in no doubt that we must meet this challenge...
The news that a British helicopter may have been involved in the 'left-to-die' boat on which 63 refugees drowned and starved to death fleeing Libya for Lampedusa last year is shameful, but not at all surprising.
It was recently found that more 18-year-olds in the UK have a Facebook account than are registered to vote. Indeed, according to Experian, more than a million 18-year-olds are signed up to Facebook compared to only 520 000 on the electoral role.
And at a time of such international uncertainty, it is reassuring not just for the government but for the country as a whole to have a man of Hague's command in one of the most important Cabinet positions. He is, as many have noted, an incredibly safe pair of hands.
This week I visited Somalia's capital. Mogadishu is a city where people until recently were surviving, not really living. As its Mayor said to me, a 20-year-old Somali has never known anything other than violence and war... I left Somalia more convinced than ever that we have a responsibility to do our utmost to stem the decline of Somalia. Its people deserve a better future, and our own security requires their country to become more stable.
For much of the last 50 years only a true optimist would have believed there were prospects for real change in Burma. For all that time the people of Burma have suffered repression. Burma's former military regime appeared impervious to international criticism of its human rights record...
If reminders of the bestial nature of the mullahs' regime were needed, events in Tehran last week did not disappoint.
Hague's moral clarity deserves support from every part of the political spectrum. For Iran's nuclear programme represents a serious threat to the interests of the West and its Arab allies in the Gulf.
It is abundantly clear to all, including the Iranian regime, that the West has intent to cause regime change in Iran. The new sanctions announced this week are a clear step towards that goal. It is the beginning of moves that the Iranian freedom movements have been asking the West for for some years.
The work of the British Council and similar organisations, and its soft power influence, is an important facet of a sophisticated and enlightened foreign policy. The reestablishment of the British Council's presence in Tripoli is a great example of this and a welcome move to help secure a peaceful, democratic future for the Libyan people.
The reality is that new evidence on torture continues to bubble up - and William Hague's proposals on changes to the British justice system are designed not to address these abuses, but simply to keep them secret.
Now is not the right time to have a referendum on the UK's membership of the EU, the party leaders all say. It's a rare occasion when all three are on the same wavelength. In fact, they all agree so much that the media can't be bothered to cover that aspect of the story.
The price of government is compromise, and whilst the short term impact of this position may be to make Nigel Farage's soap-box a little taller, sensible Conservatives everywhere must have patience, and wait for a stronger position from which to challenge the status quo.
There is absolutely no doubt that Liam Fox is an excellent Secretary of State and MP. He's been on the front bench for some time, having earned high esteem from colleagues and constituents. But what should we make of Werritty?
The Prime Minister and the Conservative Party must - and rightly seem to be - focus on helping resolve the euro crisis. The argument that a stable eurozone is in Britain's favour may be mocked by some on the left, but it is true that if the eurozone collapses Britain's economy will suffer.
