Saturday 12 June 2021

small island or global britain

The BBC has commissioned a survey on attitudes towards Britain's role in the world:

Ipsos MORI has conducted a poll for Nick Robinson’s new programme on Radio 4 considering Britain’s place in the world. The research reveals that two in five (40%) Britons are optimistic about the future, believing in twenty years’ time that Britain will be “Global Britain” and a country that plays an important role in the world. However, not everyone is convinced with a sizeable one in four (26%) saying the opposite – “Britain will be a small island that very few other countries pay attention to”.


Overall, the British still want to matter globally. By two to one we want to punch above our weight in world affairs. The young are more willing to accept a smaller role for Britain, but overall only 26% think we will be a small island no one listens to. Matching our ambition to our resources remains a central challenge.

Small Island or Global Britain? | Ipsos MORI

Here is the Radio series on the BBC: 

Nick Robinson considers our place in the world in the run up to the G7 summit in Cornwall.

BBC Radio 4 - Small Island or Global Britain? - Episode guide

And here is a clip:

Former Danish prime minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt reflected on Brexit Britain's ability to connect organise nations of the world and promote cooperation. While speaking to Nick Robinson on his BBC programme Small Island or Global Britain, she claimed the UK has been unsure of its global position for 60 years. She also argued the UK was creating enemies in Europe and that a less close relationship with the European Union would shrink its reach on the global platform.

Mr Robinson said: "Britain should use its diplomatic strength, our membership of all those global clubs to show, in the words of the Government's review of our place in the world, we are problem solvers. There is just one problem with that, many of our traditional allies have come to see Britain as a creator of problems rather than a solver."

Boris Johnson issued warning over Brexit Britain’s global role– ‘Making enemies in Europe’ | Politics | News | Express.co.uk

With some more ideas over the last couple of years:

Hong Kong exposes the impotence of so-called ‘Global Britain’ | The National

Myths from a small island: the dangers of a buccaneering view of British history

Brexit fury as French Senator dubs Boris Johnson's vision 'very 19th century' | Politics | News | Express.co.uk

Britain's place in the world: small island blues | Editorial | The Guardian

Global Britain: an old idea, but is it ripe for a comeback? - Friends of Europe

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