Cameron likes to read stuff
David Cameron's visit to India in September was 'a great success' - according to British government officials.
Sir Michael Arthur, the British High Commissioner in India, reported back to the Foreign Office that 'India impressed the visiting team. They in turn impressed India'. This is revealed in internal Foreign Office communications released to the ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ following a freedom of information request.
Sir Michael wrote: 'This visit was a great success, and clearly useful to the UK. The Indians were very interested to see the new leadership of the Opposition, and struck of course ... by their relative youth ... It is fair to report that the overall impression made on the Indians that met them - political, media, business - was very positive.'
In another email exchange officials discussed how much briefing to give to Cameron. One commented on a draft: 'I do not think it is too long because I am told that he likes to read stuff.'
Let's hope the Indians were also impressed by the political impartiality of the British civil service.
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What would you rather they do? Report back falsely that Cameron created a negative impression? Not explain how the visit went at all? And as for the bit about reading, I find it reassuring that the FCO officers were actually thinking about their tasks, rather than spouting out the same material for every visitor. At least they're working for their money... So somehow I don't share the author's overwhelmingly negative attitude to this... And I'm not about to vote Conservative!
Martin, Iβm not sure what you meant by the comment you made: βLet's hope the Indians were also impressed by the political impartiality of the British civil service.β Could you clarify?
Thanks
Ken -
Perhaps not as much as you may be thinking. I was simply noting that the contents of the High Commission's reports (and the decision to release them) reflected the political impartiality of the British civil service, and since the Indians were apparently impressed by Cameron and Osborne, I added a flippant reference which has prompted your question.