Report for the Conservative Foreign and Commonwealth Council
The Annual Summer Diplomatic party was organised by the Conservative Foreign and Commonwealth Council and took place in the Attlee room of the House of Lords on 20th July. It was a pivotal moment in the history of the CFCC, with the promise of a new dawn of political activism just around the corner. As a primarily social club before now, the decision to become more involved in the political sphere was a controversial one, but one that was readily accepted by those present, and indeed the membership as a whole.
However, the event was still in classic CFCC style, with an enjoyable evening of informal socialising, interrupted only by Rt Hon the Lord Astor of Hever’s rousing address to those present, accepting his position as patron for the CFCC. His speech showed off his typical political fervour and good humour, and was well-received by all, setting out his vision for the future of the CFCC.
The evening was also notable for fostering in itself something of a microcosm of the world stage, showing off the healthy foreign relations it works so hard to engender. Included alongside its attendees from among the stalwarts of the CFCC – the Chairman Sir Ronald Halstead CBE, Baroness Howe of Idlicote, Lord Trefgarne, Melissa Crawshay-Williams, the Earl of Selborne, and many others – were representatives from the diplomatic stage. The ambassadors of Italy, Switzerland, Belgium and Germany spent the evening enjoying pleasant conversation, and reporting on the current condition of their country and diplomatic relations. Also present were representatives for the Governments of Catalonia (which has its ‘referendum’ in September) and Taiwan, showing typical CFCC open-mindedness with regard for pursuing a more tolerant and peaceful world stage.
Overall, the evening was a roaring success with Lords, ambassadors and the politically interested all talking as equals over their shared enthusiasm for a better future and a better world for all.
John Rayner