It is difficult in a few hundred words to be fair and accurate in describing an entire government's foreign policy, but let me start by saying I like some of what this Labour government has done in foreign affairs. When it came to be tested, Britain proved her commitment to the Special Relationship in a way that shamed much of the rest of NATO.
But I look forward with hope to a government that will look at the world and our policies towards other countries with more respect for national sovereignty and with more conservatism.
Perhaps the greatest consistency shown in Britain's foreign policy since 1997 has been its lack of concern with the national interest. Look at the rhetoric and the reality of what have been our foreign policy priorities. From ethical arms sales to peace between Israel and Palestinians to combating global warming to advancing Europe as a superpower to democratising the Middle East, there has been precious little sense that advancing Britain's interests has been top priority. It's not so much that the goals themselves were unworthy. It's more that these are values others around the world will all share in and benefit from if achieved. But most other countries think of their own interests, rather than always making the general good the issue.
Under Labour, there has been very little sense in which Britain's sovereignty or power are things to be valued in themselves, or to be used to bring benefits to this country. So while other European governments have been keen to see greater cooperation with Europe, in practice Spain's worked very hard to get back Gibraltar - but ours did everything it could to surrender the rock. While almost everyone would like to see peace in the Middle East, ours traded important concessions to persuade the Americans to pursue the ill-fated Road Map to Peace - just as we traded British support for missile defence for American support for a European Rapid Reaction Force, and so on ...
This government has been too keen to see Britain's foreign policy as an expression of this country's altruism. Consequently, it has squandered Britain's influence in pursuit of unity in dubious international organisations and treaties. British foreign policy can and should be more than that.
