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I strongly welcome William Hague’s speech today. To broaden the list of countries with which we have close relations has to be in Britain’s national interest. To Japan and India, I would also add Germany. China, on the other hand, is a more difficult issue. Despite obvious increasing economic might, its stance on climate change and human rights, along with the absence of democracy, should not be forgotten.
Forging closer ties with developing global powers should not necessarily mean diluting our historically close relationship with the USA. That “special” relationship is based on many principles, chief amongst them being mutual respect. Rather sadly, this appears to have been lost in recent years. We have been given no evidence that Tony “Yo” Blair’s concerns pre- and post-Iraq were seriously considered by our American allies. Compare that to Mrs Thatcher’s response to the invasion of Grenada in 1983. Despite the then obvious closeness of the Prime Minister (PM) and President, her dismay at the invasion was made public. In contrast, the “special relationship” over the last decade has been made weaker by the apparently unquestioning approach of the Mr Blair. Perhaps by being less fawning, a Conservative PM would secure more American respect.
