A Felicitous Adaptation, Indeed

Yesterday was the eightieth anniversary of the foundation of the BBC World Service.

The welcome recent reversal of the initial decision to cancel the BBC World Service in Hindi should be followed by the restoration of the English for the Caribbean Service, reaching countries with the closest possible Commonwealth ties to Britain, and of the Portuguese for Africa Service, reaching countries that have chosen the Commonwealth while having no history in the British Empire.

The BBC World Service is funded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, at least for the time being. Its recent and present conduct makes a strong case, as do various other trends and events, for the revival of a distinct position of Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs. A predecessor position having been held by Sidney Webb, the author of the old Clause IV, there was last a Commonwealth Affairs Secretary in the Cabinet of Harold Wilson. That figure, George Thomson, later joined the SDP and died a Liberal Democrat peer.

I do not know whether or not his Commonwealth Affairs Department part-funded the BBC World Service. But I know that any such revived Department ought to do so.

Buy the book here.