The BBC’s motto is “Nation Shall Speak Unto Nation”. It’s laudable but it doesn’t mean it should be doing it incessantly at a tempo it cannot possibly sustain whilst upholding meticulous values.
Read moreThe Union - Doubling Up
Contrary to Liz Truss’s amusing and widely reported remark during this prolonged leadership contest “ignoring” Nicola Sturgeon is not the answer in dealing with the fault line that currently runs through the United Kingdom.
Read moreThe Other Chatham House Rule
The importance of immersing yourself into an activity or passion which although not being essential to your day-to-day work provides inspiration and intellectual nourishment cannot be stressed enough.
Read moreTime To Be A Little Anti-social
Why we need to hear a little less from those Tory leadership candidates.
Read moreQatar, Playing All Positions
In March 2021 I finally gave in to temptation and became a member of Chatham House. An independent institute which specialises in fostering global debate and understanding and of course forever associated with the ‘Chatham House Rule’. Over the last 12 months I’ve enjoyed the rich thought leadership and the opportunity to listen to and engage with experts and world leaders. As the pandemic has subsided virtual meetings have been enriched with in-person experiences and it’s about one of those that I am writing about today.
Last Wednesday Chatham House hosted HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs for the State of Qatar. I was expecting a solid performance, Qataris are nothing if not prepared, but I didn’t expect a diplomatic tour de force. But let’s back up. Despite flying through Hamad International Airport, Doha many times on the way to Karachi, I’ve never spent any time in the city state. As a metaphor the airport probably sums up the efficient approach of the Deputy Prime Minister - this is an airport where 45 - 55 minute international connections are the norm.
If I am honest I expected 30 minutes of remarks and then 30 minutes of questions. Back in January the UK Foreign Secretary, the Rt Hon Liz Truss MP, had been in full broadcast mode when she appeared at the same lectern. That wasn’t the case - 5 minutes of speech, centered on Qatar’s role in the world and of course the upcoming FIFA World Cup and then easily 60 plus minutes of questions.
Questions on everything. Unfiltered and spontaneous they ran the gamut. Every question answered fully without hesitation and when I say they covered every corner of the globe that is no exaggeration. Remember this is a country of not quite 3 million people. Yes it has extraordinary wealth but it was fascinating to see the Deputy Prime Minister flex his mind from Afghanistan to China to Palestine to Ukraine.
What was most refreshing was the high degree of nuance and the answering of complex, multi-part questions. We’ve become very used to politicians giving an answer they want and not necessarily to the question just asked. There was none of that.
Countries come along from time-to-time and punch way above their diplomatic weight. It feels like all roads lead to Doha, or, as the Deputy Prime Minister put it - “We in Qatar look to the future with a continued sense of optimism for peace and stability in the Middle East and beyond. Each country has a role to play on the global stage and Qatar’s foreign policy is uniquely positioned to encourage peaceful resolution of conflicts through dialogue and diplomacy.”
No 10 2.0
Some thoughts on what the Prime Minister should do next.
Read moreA failure of Leadership
Every day in British politics feels like watching a very slow moving car crash. One of those ones you watch repeatedly on YouTube as a car loses control on an icy slope and careens ever so slowly into car after car. For months that’s been the premiership of Boris Johnson.
Read moreBoris Johnson - A Lack of Coherence
We are in the midst of a global crisis where half the country is an expert on something - from epidemiology through to international treaties. Being Prime Minister is not an easy role and requires a skill set which very few of us have. That’s why when you seek the role you really need to be certain you are up to the task.
Read moreA Tribute To The Boeing 747
Over the last few weeks British Airways has been retiring their substantial fleet of Boeing 747’s, moving them Heathrow where they haven’t moved since the early days of the pandemic to Cardiff. They won’t fly for the airline again.
The 747 is, without doubt, my favourite aircraft. On a rough calculation I have probably flown just over 700,000 miles on them and, with the exception of one United flight, all have been as a passenger of British Airways so I felt I had to say something of their demise.
Read moreMission Critical
Back in May I self-published my first book “Mission Critical - 101 tips to survive and thrive at work in the office, on the move and at home”. Based on 20 years of making notes on working life it felt good to get everything down on paper with the aim of helping others.
Read moreWhipping Into Shape
A parliamentary party is only as strong as it’s Chief Whip, it feels like now is the time for an upgrade.
Read moreRe-energising The Union
Constitutional matters can’t be shoved in a drawer in the hope they will go away. Through passionate initiative we can reset the balance, turn a corrosive narrative into one that empowers and ensure the UK is fit for the challenges and opportunities ahead.
Read moreScottish Tory Renewal
Step forward Douglas Ross MP - honest, passionate, patriotic, fresh and fiercely independent. At 37 he’s got the dynamism, if successful, to dominate Scottish politics for decades.
Read moreBeginnings
Although I blog regularly on my business site, MissionCritical, this blog is intended for personal opinions and observations. Some politics, a bit of travel and whatever else crosses my path, desk or plate.