Britain’s global influence is at risk if separates from the European Union’s single market and continues to denigrate foreigners, a former government official has warned.
Sir Simon Fraser, who was permanent under-secretary at the Foreign Office until last year, said it was inevitable that the Brexit vote to leave the EU would diminish UK influence overseas.
“No matter how well we manage the process and however good the assets we have, structurally it is going to be much more difficult to exert global influence after Brexit,” Fraser said on Monday at King’s College in London.
“There is already evidence of potential self-harm in our behavior to foreign people: the reported spike in hate crime, the insensitive comments of some British politicians, and the shocking press coverage of the legal judgment on article 50,” he warned.
“I hope our political leaders will show more skill and wisdom in the next chapter of our European relationships…