After the UK chose to leave the European Union in June 2016, the future of Britain has seemed uncertain. Has Britain lost it’s popularity? Is it contradicting itself? What will our global role be, post brexit?
(Photo: Sophie Ludkin)
Ben Donaldson, Head of Campaigns at UN Association UK, spoke at ‘Global Britain: Beyond Brexit’ as part of a series of talks at the UEA that look at how the country’s role has changed globally and what Britain’s global role could become in the future.
Speaking with me after the event I found out Donaldson’s views of key issues concerning what the UK is doing well and how it can improve on the global stage. He believes that Britain’s inconsistency is affecting its credibility in the wider world, where it has been “haemorrhaging credibility on many levels.”. Through “clinging on” to power with it’s seat on the security council, the country needs to “become more coherent on the world stage”. Looking towards the future, he believes Britain must become more consistent.
Highlighting Yemen as an example, where we are the Penholder for peacekeeping. Donaldson argues that the UK is hypocritical to promote peace, whilst simultaneously undermining our stance by selling arms to Saudi Arabia.
Donaldson advocates for active debate in “schools, communities, colleges, universities…the debate is so fundamental to the UK’s interests and our daily lives” but says it must be followed by action. Following this he says it is important for people to go to their MPs, write petitions and let the government know what they think of their policies. Actions like this will then, “pave the way for greater scrutiny and greater accountability when it comes to the UK’s actions”.
Predominantly he believes that the individual can become active by getting their opinion out there. Whether that be via contacting newspapers or representatives and creating discussions. He cites the “UK’s worst enemy” as being apathy.
He warns that if the UK do not consider the international system, and it were to fall apart, then “we could find ourselves returning to a situation of conflict, even in western Europe”.
(Photo: Sophie Ludkin)
Donaldson did commend the UK for it’s creative approach to some UN reforms and opening up UN recruitment services and it’s contributions towards overseas aid. The UK is currently the only G7 country hitting its target of 0.7% GNI on overseas aid, which is something the UK “should be proud of”.
However, he also believes the UK should “absolutely do more” in supporting refugees, at a time when the levels of forced displacement are at their highest ever. Donaldson says “every country that has the capacity to do more, has to do more”.
As a representative of UNA, Donaldson urges people to “spur the government into action”, and draw their attention to the inconsistencies found on the UNA ‘Global Britain Scorecard’. Which offers a look into key areas that have been impartially assessing the UK’s performance.
it's the news 