I remember the round of FCO cuts in 2011 when they were already cutting into bone. Many smaller embassies were run by two UK diplomats only, including the ambassador, leaving most actual diplomatic work to local hires. This now has to mean embassy closures.
https://twitter.com/thetimes/status/1469566027218530305
When a core set of tasks that can only be done by diplomatic staff (eg cypher work) is done by the Ambassador and the DHM, because there’s nobody else qualified, that leaves the usual diplomatic reporting, representation etc to local staff. Is that what Tory backbenchers want?
Local staff are great, don’t misunderstand me; but I don’t believe that many people back home really appreciate how much of British diplomacy is conducted by foreigners on their behalf.
Another angle: during my time in the FCO I was struck by how many HQ staff were on loan from other departments or on secondment from other diplomatic services (I was one of them). I don’t know if they all came for free to the UK - but I know I did.
One way the FCO liked to save money was by sharing office space. In several capitals around the world, the UK had negotiated, or was negotiating, deals to share buildings with the EU delegation and other EU member state embassies. Co-location was all the rage. Until 2016.
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