Britain’s Place In The World: Using UK Soft Power More Effectively

If Labour wins the election, they will be keen to ensure that the UK’s reputation on a global stage becomes part of its toolkit to drive economic and social prosperity. From their commitment to the culture and the arts, to their belief in the strength of the UK’s reputation across sport and education, soft power has a key role to play.

In this session, Nick (in partnership with Evie Aspinall, Director of the British Foreign Policy Group and the UK Soft Power Group) will explore the likely focus for Labour and the ways this will be translated into tangible impact on a global basis.

Nick Forbes, CBE, Senior Advisor at Strategy International:

Nick served as the Labour Leader of Newcastle City Council from 2011 to 2022, bringing more than £1.5bn of investment into the city. Nick was the (annually elected) Leader of the Local Government Association Labour Group for 6 years, and in this role was invited by Sir Keir Starmer to attend Shadow Cabinet meetings, representing the increasingly powerful voice of local and regional government within the Labour Party.

Nick served for 12 years on the National Policy Forum and for 6 years on the National Executive Committee of the Labour Party. Nick has been Chair of Core Cities UK (establishing the influential Climate Change Finance Investment Commission) and Vice Chair of Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Authority. He was awarded a CBE in 2019 for services to Local Government.

Evie Aspinall, Director, British Foreign Policy Group:

Evie’s primary research interests are domestic consent for foreign policy, the UK’s role in the world and challenges posed by the UK’s strategic rivals. Evie holds a BA from the University of Cambridge and an MSc from King’s College London. She has previously worked at UN Women UK and the Future Leaders Network and was formerly the UK Head Delegate to the Youth7, the G7’s official youth engagement group. She also served as President of Cambridge University Students’ Union. She is a regular commentator in the media on issues pertinent to UK foreign policy.