Establishing a distinctive foreign policy

In a keynote speech at the Foreign Office in London, William Hague has outlined Coalition plans for a "clear, focused and effective" foreign policy.

He criticised the previous Labour Government for neglecting to lift its eyes to the wider strategic needs of this county and failing to secure our influence in a rapidly changing world.

The Foreign & Commonwealth Secretary set out five key areas for pursuing a distinctive British foreign policy:

1. Establishing a National Security Council and launching a Strategic Defence & Security Review
2. Bringing together all of the Departments of Government in the pursuit of national objectives
3. Using our national strengths and advantages to build strong bilateral relationships for the UK. They include our world-class education system, the standing of our Armed Forces and quality of our Intelligence Services and GCHQ, which are unique and of inestimable value
4. Encouraging the Foreign & Commonwealth Office to be more ambitious in articulating and leading Britain's efforts overseas
5. Giving due weight to Britain's membership of the European Union and other multilateral institutions, including NATO, the United Nations and the Commonwealth.

Concluding the speech, William said: "We are now raising our sights for the longer term, looking at the promotion of British interests in the widest sense."

And he added, "Although the next twenty years is likely to be a time of increased danger in foreign affairs, it is also a time of extraordinary opportunity for a country that sets out to make the most of its still great advantages."

Conservatives Abroad Bahrain receives William Hague, Liam Fox and Hugo Swire

Following our Honorary Chairman’s letter a few days ago, we also have a number of other highlights to point out.

First of all we would like to personally thank those of you who took the time to join us last Wednesday, it was a wonderful opportunity to get to meet a lot of new faces and also some familiar ones. The overwhelming support we have received has been very encouraging and we hope to build on this momentum and organize a number of events in the near future. For those of you that were unable to join us we do hope that you will be able to make it to our next events.

Having discussed with a number of you the need to get senior political figures to visit us in the Gulf and also the feeling of under representation that has been prevalent in the past we are pleased to let you know that results have already been achieved. This weekend, along with the BBBF leaders, we were able to meet a number of politicians who have explicitly expressed their support for our development as a group. Rt Hon William Hague, Shadow Foreign Secretary, and Dr Liam Fox, Shadow Secretary of State for Defense, met with us on Saturday morning at the Ritz Carlton where we were able to discuss with them the great opportunities that lay in the Gulf with the expat community and the need for greater representation. Both expressed their personal support for Gulf Tories and acknowledged the importance of renewing ties that have been allowed to lie fallow under the Labour government.

Additionally, William Hague said “I am delighted that British Conservatives in Bahrain has been established, they are further helping to strengthen the vital political and business ties between Britain and Bahrain which will be an important policy of an incoming Conservative Government”

Dr Liam Fox added, “This wonderful organisation enables British subjects to maintain their political interest in home and emphasises the importance to Britain of one of our closes friends in the Gulf”

Gulf Daily News » Local News » Consevatives Abroad meet British leaders

Some of you may have already seen the coverage in the GDN on Conservatives Abroad but if not here is the link:

Gulf Daily News » Local News » Conservatives Abroad meet British leaders

That evening we were also able to meet with Hugo Swire MP, who is also Secretary of the Conservative Middle Council. He expressed his great interest in mobilizing a network of Conservative expatriates throughout the Middle East to encourage eligible voters to participate in the forthcoming general election.

Things have indeed moved quickly in the last few days but we intend to keep this momentum going and we are currently in the process of organizing a number of other events whose keynote speakers will include important political figures from Westminster. We have had the commitment of these Conservative leaders that there will be further visits in the near future and I will be keeping you updated with mailings over the Christmas period. In the meantime we encourage you to stay in touch and for those of you who are eligible and keen to vote please do let us know so that we can organize suitable proxies.