Plan to appoint business leaders as ambassadors “risks undermining the UK’s influence”
The FDA has criticised proposals to recruit UK ambassadors from the private sector after Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt suggested top diplomatic jobs could be opened up to business leaders after Brexit.
Hunt is set to unveil the plans to an audience at the Policy Exchange this evening and told the BBC that the chief executive of a FTSE 100 company “could do a brilliant job representing the UK” and “building up our trade with another country”.
However, FDA General Secretary Dave Penman cautioned that “the role of a diplomat in representing the UK’s interests abroad is much broader than simply trade”.
Responding to the proposals, Penman explained that diplomats go through “years of training” to develop the range of skills required to be an ambassador, which already includes expertise in international trade.
According to Penman, solely focussing on trade “risks undermining the UK’s interests and influence given the complexities of international relations”.
He added: “Diplomats are made, not born and the UK’s interests are best served by a professional diplomatic service.”
Related News
-
Investing in the future
As the union introduces its first dedicated National Officer for Northern Ireland, Tommy Newell reflects on the FDA’s growth in NI and future plans with the Devolved Government Network.
-
Unlock your leadership and management potential
As part of Young Workers’ Month, the FDA highlights how development schemes like the Fast Stream can set young workers up for a successful career in public service, and how the union will support them along the way.
-
Under-resourced and over-worked
Tom Nathan on the FDA’s report into the financial and administrative challenges present in the justice system, its advice for the new government on increasing prosecutions of Rape and Serious Sexual Offences, and next steps to ensure the union’s message is heard.