Labour warns of ‘strategic shrinkage’

SHADOW Foreign Secretary Douglas Alexander yesterday warned against Britain inadvertently sleepwalking into “strategic shrinkage” as the Government announced its plans for the future of the country’s diplomatic network.

Foreign Secretary William Hague told the Commons the department would find £100m per year of “administrative savings” by end of the Parliament.

At the same time he planned to expand “our connections with the emerging powers of the world” and ensure “no strategic shrinkage of Britain’s influence”.

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Mr Hague said the Government planned to “significantly increase” its presence in India and China, the world’s two emerging superpowers.

Frontline staff will be boosted in China by up to 50 officials and in India by 30. He also proposed “substantial expansion” in diplomatic strength in Brazil, Turkey, Mexico and Indonesia.

Mr Hague, the MP for Richmond in North Yorkshire, added: “We will embark on a substantial reinvigoration of the diplomatic network to make it ready for the 21st century, to expand our connections with the emerging powers of the world and to signal where Britain was retreating it is now advancing.

“The case for a strengthened network is utterly compelling.

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“The only way to increase our national prosperity and secure the growth of our economy is through trade and our embassies play a vital role in supporting British business.”

For Labour, Mr Alexander said the Government was “right to assess” where best to deploy the department’s “finite resources”, but added: “This review must not be a means by which the Government once again chooses bilateralism over multilaterialism, chooses trade over wider influence and thereby however inadvertently, sleepwalks into bilateralism strategic shrinkage.”