The UK’s global diplomatic and security influence is at risk if it cuts itself off from the single market and continues to denigrate foreigners, a former civil servant has warned. At present, he said, the UK spent more annually on the winter fuel allowance than on the Foreign Office, while the department’s budget was only twice the UK aid budget to Ethiopia. He said the Foreign Office should be handed the same coordinating role over foreign affairs as the Treasury enjoys over economic policy. He suggested the Department of International Development and the Department of International Trade could be incorporated into the Foreign Office. Although UK trade with these countries was growing, the structure of UK trade was not going to shift rapidly.

Source: The Guardian November 08, 2016 16:29 UTC