Centre Write Spring 2018 GlobalGlobal giant? giant Tom Tugendhat MP | Baroness Helic | Lord Heseltine | Shanker Singham 2 Contents EDITORIAL A FORCE FOR GOOD? Editor’s note Was and is the UK a force for good Laura Round 4 in the world? Director’s note Kwasi Kwarteng MP and Joseph Harker 11 Ryan Shorthouse 5 The home of human rights Letters to the editor 6 Sir Michael Tugendhat 13 The end of human rights in Hong Kong? FREE TRADING NATION Benedict Rogers 14 A global leader in free trade? Aid to our advantage Shanker Singham 7 The Rt Hon Andrew Mitchell MP 16 Compass towards the Commonwealth #MeToo on the front line Sir Lockwood Smith 8 Chloe Dalton and Baroness Helic 17 Theresa’s Irish trilemma Constitutional crisis? John Springford 10 Professor Vernon Bogdanor 18 Page 7 Shanker Singham examines the future of UK trade after Brexit Clem Onojeghuo Bright Blue is an independent think tank and pressure group Page 21 The Centre Write for liberal conservatism. interview: Tom Tugendhat MP Director: Ryan Shorthouse Chair: Matthew d’Ancona Board of Directors: Rachel Johnson, Alexandra Jezeph, Diane Banks, Phil Clarke & Richard Mabey Editor: Laura Round brightblue.org.uk Print: Aquatint | aquatint.co.uk Matthew Plummer Design: Chris Solomons CONTENTS 3 Emergency first responder A record to be proud of Strongly soft Theo Clarke 20 Eamonn Ives 30 Damian Collins MP 38 THE CENTRE WRITE INTERVIEW: DEFENCE OF THE REALM TEA FOR TWO Tom Tugendhat MP 21 Acting in Alliance with Lord Heseltine Peter Quentin 31 Laura Round 39 BRIGHT BLUE POLITICS The relevance of our Why I’m a Bright Blue MP deterrence CULTURE The Rt Hon Anna Soubry MP 24 The Rt Hon Julian Lewis MP 32 Film: Darkest Hour Research overview Fighting fit Phillip Box 41 Sam Hall 24 James Wharton 33 The future of war: A history Tamworth Prize winner 2017 Jihadis and justice (Sir Lawrence Freedman) David Verghese 26 Dr Julia Rushchenko 34 Ryan Shorthouse 42 Transparent diplomacy Sticking with the deal Exhibition: Impressionists in London James Dobson 28 Nick King 36 Eamonn Ives 43 Page 17 #MeToo on the front line. Chloe Dalton and Baroness Helic have a plan. Africa Renewal – ID4D Page11 Is Britain a force for Page 39 good? Kwasi Kwarteng MP Tea for two with and Joseph Harker debate Lord Heseltine Christian Ferrer Florian Pérennès EDITORIAL 4 Laura Round is the Editor’s note Editor of Centre Write and Communications Manager at Bright Blue eaving the European Union will significantly change Secretary of State for International Development, the Rt Hon Britain’s place in the world. The Government claims Brexit Andrew Mitchell MP (p.16), defends British aid, arguing that it is L will create a truly ‘Global Britain’, championing free trade. effective and transformational public expenditure. Recently, however, the Foreign Affairs Select Committee criticised Former special advisers to William Hague when he was Foreign the Government for lacking a clear strategy and the funding for Secretary, Baroness Helic and Chloe Dalton (p.17), urge the Britain’s post-Brexit foreign policy. Government to build on the UK leadership they developed when in This edition of Centre Write takes a deeper look at the Coalition Government on tackling sexual violence against women. opportunities and challenges facing a freshly divorced Britain. They warn that the case for doing so is even more urgent today, Britain is the home of both free trade and human rights, due to the horrific rape and sexual slavery carried out in Syria and which are both essential for our prosperity and security. When Burma in particular. we leave the EU, the Government should ensure that Britain remains a global leader of both. The summit of leaders of the “The summit of leaders of the Commonwealth, taking place in April this year in Windsor, is Commonwealth, taking place in April this an opportunity to remind the world of both our values and our year in Windsor, is an opportunity to remind strengths through this historical alliance. As the former High the world of both our values and our Commissioner of New Zealand to the UK – Sir Lockwood Smith strengths through this historical alliance.” (p.8) – points out, the UK has the opportunity to “electrify that powerhouse”. An increasingly belligerent Russia is focusing minds on the The future of trade is currently the central issue of the Brexit resources and capabilities of Britain’s defence. Former soldier and negotiations. Shanker Singham (p.7), now at the Institute of now author, James Wharton (p.33), looks at the ways we can Economic Affairs, highlights the opportunities after Brexit. But the attract and retain more people in the army. Dr Julia Rushchenko Centre for European Reform’s deputy director, John Springford (p.34), from the Henry Jackson Society, explains that this country (p.10), explains the complications around the Irish border. Former can continue its role as a world leader in combating terrorism and Deputy Prime Minister, the Rt Hon Lord Heseltine (p.39), organised crime. chats over tea about why he is concerned Brexit is damaging our Historically, Britain has been successful in wielding both hard reputation abroad. and soft power. It is a nuclear power with a permanent seat on The increasingly high-profile Chair of the Foreign Affairs the UN Security Council. But it has also vast cultural influence Select Committee, Tom Tugendhat MP (p.21), sets out what he across the globe, especially because of our institutions such as believes the priorities for British foreign policy should be. In this universities and the BBC, as well as the widespread use of the edition’s interview, he discusses – among other topics – the future English language. Damian Collins MP (p.38), who chairs the of NATO and the Magnitsky Act. Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee, writes that Britain enjoys an impressive reputation worldwide for our soft power is more important than ever and should not be thought aid spending and projects. However, some are lobbying the of as a secondary issue. Government to revoke its legal commitment to spend 0.7% of I hope this edition serves to provide fresh ideas to secure Gross National Income on international development. Former Britain’s place, post-Brexit, as a global giant. EDITORIAL 5 and – through the signing of the European resources such as our military capability, Director’s note Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and aid budget, diplomatic and intelligence decolonisation in the 1950s – spread them services, institutions such as the BBC to the Continent and the Commonwealth. and universities, and UK settlement and Brexit could be an opportunity for sanctuary. Ryan Shorthouse is the Britain to assert itself as a global leader Each of these critical resources need Director of Bright Blue not only in free trade, as the Prime Minister to have, post-Brexit, sufficient support, has argued, but human rights too. These funding and reforms to maximise our should be central pillars of Britain’s national interest. post-Brexit foreign policy, since they are Not maintaining spending commitments he focus of Bright Blue’s work is vital to Britain’s – as well as the world’s – to our aid or military budgets, for instance, beyond Brexit, generating policy prosperity and security. would be a serious mistake. As would T ideas to ensure Britain is “a secure, The terms of the recently agreed not reforming our immigration system to prosperous, tolerant country”, in the words transition agreement between the EU ensure talented students, workers and of the Prime Minister, after we leave the and UK were unsurprising: membership investors are not deterred from coming to European Union. of the EU Single Market and Customs our country. In particular, we agree wholeheartedly Union requiring the jurisdiction of the Bright Blue has plenty of other ideas that the UK should be “a country that European Court of Justice. But Brexiteers for the Government’s ‘Global Britain’ goes out into the world to build were happy with one win: the ability to agenda, published last year in our Britain relationships with old friends and new begin negotiating and signing trade deals breaking barriers report. The Department allies alike”. with different countries. This essential for International Development should The Government talks of a ‘Global but gigantic task, frankly, requires greater match the funding provided by the Foreign Britain’, free from some of the constraints expertise and more realistic expectations. Office for the Magna Carta Fund, which of EU membership, such as on regulation It is paramount that, when forging new supports organisations in other countries and trade deals. But, as the Foreign Affairs deals, standards are not sacrificed for improve human rights. This country should Select Committee recently warned, there quick wins. The sprightly Environment increase its financial contributions to the is currently no clear strategy or funding for Secretary has been making the right International Criminal Court. We should this vision. Time to flesh it out. noises, insisting that the regulations remain a proud signatory and champion The starting point should be two around the natural environment and animal of the European Convention on Human important ideas that this country has welfare will, if anything, be strengthened Rights. Finally, in the ongoing Brexit exported to the rest of the world: free trade once we leave the EU. Three quarters of all negotiations, Britain should offer – on a and human rights. the world’s trade deals, according to the conditional basis – continued funding of Adam Smith and David Ricardo are WTO, have human rights provisions; we the European Development Fund. generally viewed as the economists who should ensure our deals, where possible, first conceptualised and championed free include obligations to improve human “The starting point should trade, which Britain – especially after the rights in the partner countries.