United Kingdom: Soft Power

Baroness McIntosh of Pickering Excerpts

Tuesday 15th July 2025 Lords Chamber

[Lord Collins of Highbury (Lab)]

I must declare an interest as well, as a humanist. My noble friend is absolutely right, but one reason why the Soft Power Council is essential is that it is not restricted to UK government. Our soft power is not only about UK government action, although that is important; it is about how we mobilise all elements of soft power. By the way, in all the countries I have visited in Africa, every leader speaks to me about one thing—and, on many occasions, they share my pride in Arsenal. They talk about the Premier League. Its reach is massive. We should understand that soft power is not limited to the number of things that we talk about; it is about economic development and growth, education and research.

[Baroness McIntosh of Pickering (Con)]

I declare my interest as being in receipt of a British Council grant to enable me to study at a Danish university. Does the Minister share my concern at the poor ability of British people to speak a foreign language? Is that something his department will look at, to ensure that there is more foreign language teaching in schools?

[Lord Collins of Highbury (Lab)]

I agree with the noble Baroness. Spreading the English language has been the most important element of the British Council’s commercial activity. I also agree that how we support the teaching of foreign languages here is important. I was in front of the Foreign Affairs Committee this morning making that exact point: how we communicate is really important. When I have visited countries, I have seen that those that want economic growth and development see English as a tool for business. They do not see it as a cultural issue; they see having English taught in their schools as a way of growing their economy. Even in the francophone countries, that is what they tell me.