I was surprised to be elected to the Foreign Affairs Select Committee and it feels intimidating to be in a room with so much accumulated experience.
I remember meeting some of the Foreign Affairs Committee when I was still working for the Foreign Office. I have a memory of grand figures in linen suits and flak jackets. There always seemed to be a young MP who lost his passport or was found taking Kevlar plates out of the flak jacket to save weight on the plane. I fear I am now that MP.
But there seem to be a number of very serious questions. Is it possible for the UK to have a fully independent foreign policy? What would this mean? Is it possible to be passionately moderate, to avoid the temptation to oscillate between grand interventions and total lack of engagement? Could there be a way of matching our resources and our priorities more exactly? Could we learn to accept more risk? Or accept that there are things which are beyond our power? But these are grand questions.
My first aim is to try to listen and learn and not to lose my passport.
( 10 comments ) Tags: Afghanistan, foreign policy, select committee
Comment by Maxine on July 12, 2010 at 12:46 pm
Some interesting questions posed here.
Comment by julie hodgson on July 12, 2010 at 7:42 pm
I wish you all the best because you will need it ! I have high hopes for this government – please do not let us down !
If you went into this business with true intentions and you have the courage to stand by your convictions you can make a big difference
Comment by Kevan Matthews on July 12, 2010 at 8:41 pm
We need people of great quality to lead our country and I’m sure you will be more than up to the job in hand Sir… I for one, have full confidence in you abilities in this capacity.
Comment by Dagny on July 12, 2010 at 11:45 pm
Grand questions indeed, sadly what we would like to offer and what we are able to offer are two different things. Good luck.
Comment by Ron French on July 13, 2010 at 12:32 am
Learning is a good first step. Keep it up, and become a great M.P.
Comment by julie white on July 13, 2010 at 1:37 pm
in order to establish my interest in new conservative policies is that, i believe many would disagree with public opinions on democracy as most citizens have undistinguished moral issues towards law and order reform under an eco-friendly enviroment that is why my quotational opinion has some believe in conservatism due to class formations but i feel some liberalism plays roles in welfare due to deprivation and social discouragement
Comment by margaret deans on July 14, 2010 at 8:11 pm
i am delighted with this appointment, having read your books, you do have experience of afghanistan which will surely be invaluable. m deans
Comment by Atam Vetta on July 18, 2010 at 8:30 pm
The issues you raise are important and need to be debated openly.
On independent Foreign policy, my answer is YES. We need to have close Indo-British relationshp. The fact that President Obama NOW also wants to have close relationship with India, should not deter us. I shall send you a copy of my Open letter to the PM on Indo British Relations and hope that you will read it before his visit to India.
Regards,
Atam Vetta
Comment by Chris D on July 20, 2010 at 8:57 pm
“Is it possible for the UK to have a fully independent foreign policy? ”
What, independent from Brussels, you mean? Now that would be progress.
Comment by Michael Attwood on July 22, 2010 at 4:29 pm
Well. At least we have someone who understands the lessons learned by T E Lawrence, both during and after WWI, in Arabia and in the corridors of power. Everyone in government should have to watch your doco and answer questions on it. I keep hoping the BBC will repeat it.
I didn’t vote Tory, and on the whole don’t like what they stand for or what they are doing; but I’m more than happy to see you personally in government, and in this particular area based on your TV and book output. Best of luck Sahib Rory.