One of the supposed ‘hallmarks’ of British character is that we are told he/she always ‘plays by the rules’ or ‘plays with a straight bat’ (to use two cricketing analogies). Extending that further, in my opinion that also means that Britishers can be considered decent and trustworthy – thus always telling the truth. It then follows that in attempting to influence another person, someone British will do so using fact.

Bearing the foregoing in mind, the supposed ‘think-tank’ British Influence is most definitely misnamed.

First, we had David Hannay, Lord Hannay of Chiswick, former UK ambassador to the EU and UN, posing rhetorical questions on the website of British Influence that have already been answered, coupled with the fact that his answers to his own questions were economical with the actualité, to say the least. Lo and behold, also published by British Influence, is a speech by Oona King given at British Influence’s event Britain in Europe, 2015: Leading or leaving? As with Hannay’s article, so with King as this too contains so many examples of being economical with the actualité as to be laughable; and both are being passed off as ‘gospel’ – and so done with a ‘straight face’.

Purely my view, but I believe both are a disgrace to the idea of ‘Britishness’ where any idea of fair play and truthfulness is concerned – even perhaps their passports should be seized under the Counter-Terrorism and Security Bill, as soon as it becomes law. After all, is not part of a nation’s security, its sovereignty – and are they not suggesting that that should be undermined?