“Britain’s treatment of the Windrush generation and attitude to its colonial past means it is struggling to retain the same influence across the African continent as China, a cross-party group of peers has said.” #BestRoyalReads https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jul/10/uks-windrush-scandal-seeing-it-lose-influence-across-african-continent

“In a new report, sharply critical of a lack of a clear UK government strategy for Africa, the Lords International Relations and Defence Committee said the Home Office’s treatment of Africans seeking visas to the UK was close to humiliating.”

“Following a six month inquiry into UK relations with Africa, the peers warned that “the UK’s domestic policies affect how it is perceived in sub-Saharan Africa. The Windrush scandal and the ‘hostile environment’ have damaged the UK’s reputation”.”

“They also warned the UK’s historic engagement w/ Africa had had a lasting impact on its ‘ships in the region,& that it had to be more open abt its negative aspects, “incl ongoing tensions over the history of how it colonised...countries in Africa &..its role in the slave trade””

“The committee was told..that the UK would have “an ongoing problemin our ‘ship w/ a number of African countries” until the UK acknowledged “the important role that the slave trade played in bldg Britain” & its consequences 4 the dehumanisation of ppl from the African continent””

“By contrast China is seen as a partner across much of Africa, offering itself as a growth model for other sub-Saharan countries.”

“Overall the peers found the UK’s Africa strategy falling short, saying much of it was vague, full of jargon or part of a continuum in which the Foreign Office committed to making Africa a priority and then, in the face of competing demands, failed to do so.”

“The peers said they were surprised 2 hear that no detailed work had yet been done 2 identify ways in which the UK could offer better access 2 African exporters than was possible when the UK was in the EU.The bulk of Britain’s post Brexit trade work is focussed on Asia & the US.”

“Plans for the UK to become the top G7 investor in Africa by 2022, a target set out by Theresa May in 2018, have been quietly dropped by the current prime minister in favour of the UK becoming Africa’s partner of choice, the committee noted.”

Anyone else have a feeling of deja vu? This is similar to when Harry said Fortnite was harmful for young kids, was roundly mocked and criticized, then a month later an academic study was released saying exactly the same thing.

H&M tried to help the UK baby step their way into a convo of “acknowledging the wrongs of the past” and got pilloried. Imagine a military vet called a traitor? Now the report from the peers refers to “humiliating” treatment, “hostile environment”, & history of “dehumanization”.

Prime example of how extraordinarily the Firm & royalists supporting them fumbled the bag. U have H&M, a duo, who can credibly have this convo w/o getting laughed out of the room. Instead of using that to the BRF’s advantage,they pushed H&M out in favor of nationalist nonsense.