Last month, Lord Howell of Guildford, President of the Conservative Foreign & Commonwealth Council (CFCC), hosted CFCC’s Diplomatic Summer Reception on the Terrace of the House of Lords. This popular event was attended by many Senior members of the Diplomatic Corps, CFCC Patrons and Members with their guests.
In his welcome address, Lord Howell, which he described as a ‘warm up’ for the speeches to follow, referred to a world boiling over. Wisdom is required from its leaders to produce balanced policies with supportive realism in order to provide stability for freedom and survival. In this age of drones, the rule of law and diplomatic skills are required to produce the direction of travel and the telling of a positive story. Not everything is bad however; the friendship spread across the 56 countries of the Commonwealth being an example.
Baroness Meyer, CFCC’s Chairman, followed Lord Howell and introduced Dame Penny Mordaunt, the guest speaker for the evening. But first she invited H.E. Warren Stephens, The US Ambassador, from amongst the invited guests to say a few words.
Ambassador Stephens echoed the words of Lord Howell and acknowledged the importance for the UK to have belief in its wants regarding its relations with the US, the EU and the Commonwealth. Most important, he said, is its friendship with the US.
In introducing Penny Mordaunt, Catherine Meyer said she had known her for many years as a highly connected and a very respected speaker.
Penny Mordaunt had lost her mother at 15 and had brought up a brother.
By dint of her own determination she had progressed to hold nine government positions with responsibility amongst others for women, defence, trade, health and Leader of the House of Commons. On her watch her interest in paying attention to global disability, had caught the attention of the UN.
Never to be forgotten was her responsibility as Lord President of the Council at the Coronation of King Charles where she carried and presented the symbolic exceptionally heavy Sword of State (the Mace) to the King. She was seen and admired by millions of television viewers around the world and elevated to film star status! How different British politics might have been had she won the Conservative Party leadership contest in 2022.
Following this wonderful introduction, Penny Mordaunt started her speech by commenting on the news of the evening that the former Defence Minister, John Healy, had been appointed Chancellor under the new Burnham administration. As a former defence minister herself, she felt that this was a good choice.
She had spent the day at the excellent Farnborough Air Show where she was grateful to the presence of US aircrews displaying their wares. There were special tributes to past US combat fighter pilot legends such as the Olympian Billy Fiske and others of his like.
She had been an officer in the Royal Navy Reserves and has been very aware of the need for naval strengths of sufficient size to combat the ever-growing organised criminal smuggling fleets as well as protecting tankers and carrying out environmental surveys of the oceans. Maritime conditions are now far harder in a challenging regulatory framework.
She felt that spending 5% of GDP on defence would be a bargain for the tax payer; defence being more important than ever with NATO now facing unequalled problems. She appealed to the Ambassadors present to make the case to their Ministries to help.
On domestic politics, she believed that the large majority of the public desire things to work. To achieve that objective, there has to be a complete and radical change from amongst other things, the ridiculous energy policy.
Rituals and traditions are important and she referred to the devotion to the country of the late Queen who understood so well what her people wanted. Britain is not broken.
She made reference to the Music Man Charity Project with which she is involved as President. This was established to provide musical education and performance opportunities for children and adults with learning disabilities in memory of Sir David Ames, the murdered MP, who had been its president and champion for many years. It is to perform a major concert on a Broadway stage.
Questions followed of which there were many. With a number on the inspiring Music Man Charity and how to become involved. Her overall message and belief was to be proud of history, to believe in meritocracy and to have confidence. A very well received address.
Thanks go to Melissa Crawshay-Williams for the energy she had put in to ensure the success of the evening and to the attentive House of Lords personnel who worked hard to ensure that all present were well-served
A great evening with a full attendance expertly organised.
William Knight
Photographs Guy Lucas [email protected]
