LORD DAVID HANNAY INTERVIEWS, June 2024.
Lord Hannay is a top international diplomat now retired, but is still a very active member of the House of Lords. His distinguished career includes being British Ambassador to the European Union (1985-1990), Ambassador to the United Nations, (1990-1995), then 7 years as the UK Special Representative for Cyprus. During the Covid pandemic he wrote another book, “Britain in Europe: a losing cause.”
Lord Hannay’s intro explains he studied European history at Oxford University, sometimes described as the home of lost causes! The student learned that it was unwise and futile for Britain to turn its back on Europe; how intimately we were linked by history, culture, economy and politics to our European neighbours. Between 2016 and 2019 he wrote for the InFacts website explaining why the UK should remain. I think his 200+ brilliant essays are historically important and Britain’s answer to America’s Federal Papers.
All diplomats enjoy travel and like most foreigners; many become linguists. Top diplomats advise politicians about negotiating after clear analysis of Britain’s national interest. My first Zoom with Lord Hannay on 12th June 2024 was a getting-to-know-you interview. It lasts half an hour.
This second Zoom interview with Lord Hannay was on 19th June 2024. This is by far the more important interview. It also takes 30 minutes. His overview of the UK’s relationship with Europe and place in the world since 1945 is masterful. This octogenarian still has a brilliant mind, takes the long historical view and tells politicians what they need to know, not what they want to hear. He doesn’t hold back. (Margaret Thatcher didn’t appoint him to the top FO job because she didn’t want to be faced by the rat-tat-tat of his “machine gun” fire every time she stepped into Downing Street!)
The Blenheim Conference in July 2024 was the just start of a long and winding road to restoring good relations between the UK and the European Union. Lord Hannay says defence and security cooperation are the keys, but he foresees many hurdles.
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Late March 2025