Libya: What is the endgame?
Amidst mixed messages from government ministers, there is an urgent need for clarity on the endgame in Libya, writes Matthew Pitt.
William Hague
Hague now has a whole series of questions to answer
William Hague has come under increasing pressure in the last few weeks, criticised for a series of blunders over Libya, Egypt and the whole Middle East, culminating in the disastrous SAS mission.
Are the cabinet split over Libya?
There is continued confusion today over where the government, or even the prime minister himself, stands over foreign policy in general and Libya in particular.
Tory MP calls for DfID budget to be raided to pay for BBC
Tory MP Andrew Tyrie has written to William Hague demanding the Department for International Development foots the bill for the BBC World Service – and slammed his own party’s ring-fencing of the aid budget.
Why is Fox “bigging up” the threat posed by Iran?
One would hate to think Liam Fox was overplaying Iran’s nuclear ambitions and capability as a way of bigging up the importance of his own portfolio, writes Frank Spring.
Four Cheers for the Government’s failure to stop Illegal Timber!!!
This week the Government are holding a drinks party to congratulate themselves on the new European Union directive on illegal timber. The directive is five years late. It is toothless and it fails to achieve the objective of putting an end to this trade that costs developing countries up to $15 billion each year.
Will Hague and Clegg deliver on their pledge to the Chagossians?
Is the Coalition Government’s commitment to human rights an accurate reflection on their foreign policy or is it just a hypocritical string of half-truths?
Cameron is showing refreshing pragmatism on Turkey and Europe
David Cameron’s stance on Europe and the European Union seems to have turned on its head in recent weeks; earlier this week, he used his meeting with the Turkish prime minister to state Turkey’s case for EU membership – a crucially important issue for both Turkey and the future of the EU.
From “top priority” to “top target for cuts”: A Coalition u-turn on climate diplomacy?
Writing for the Telegraph, James Kirkup flagged a couple of weeks ago that William Hague has quietly announced cuts to the Foreign Office budget for climate diplomacy.
Hague’s actions on Europe not his words will show where he really stands
If we are to take something positive from William Hague’s speech yesterday, it is that senior Conservatives seem to have got the message that Britain’s role in the European Unioin is important. However, it has also exposed the emptiness of what the Cameron government has to offer on the international stage.