To think the UK is losing a lot of soft power?

[alloutoffucks]

The UK has always had a certain reputation in many countries abroad of being competent and organised. That reputation translates into soft power. It beings increased respect for British businesses and business people, and helps foster trust.
Of course it does not mean that every British business person or business is respected or trusted. But the assumption that Britain in general is competent and organised does affect people's assumptions and views of British business.
I think that is eroding fast. Every friend and family member abroad I have spoken to has see that video of the nurse crying and I have been asked a few times why our supermarkets are empty of food (I know they are not, but that is the impression some of they now have). They ask me why British people are not co-operating when in their own country there is no evidence of stockpiling and the only shortage is hand sanitiser. They ask me why we don't have enough PPE for medics.
Some of these questions are by people who pay attention to the news, but everyone has seen the video of the nurse crying.
So AIBU to think Britain is losing a lot of soft power and that this will have an impact on British businesses abroad.

I think britians opinion of britain has always been higher than the rest of the world.

Spot on

"Africa has locked down"??

We're a comedy theme park: EnglandLand, with royals and Downton and the rest of us are all butlers.

The UK has always had a certain reputation in many countries abroad of being competent and organised.

where?

I think Brexit demolished any reputation for good sense. There's always been a latent hostility to Britain in Ireland but I, and others, always thought of the UK as being a place where sensible decisions were made. That's gone now. The video of the nurse crying won't make a difference.

I, and others, always thought of the UK as being a place where sensible decisions were made. That's gone now.

I’m irish too and I agree. There used to be respect (if not love) for the UK, but the brexit carry on put paid to that.

Did you not see the memes from the US about Brexit being a more stupid decision than electing Trump?

Most people in the US are only vaguely aware of Brexit. A very small number at both end of the spectrum have mildly positive or negative attitudes about it as the impact here is essentially nil.

Even poor old Cuba with sanctions that the US won't reduce even for corona virus has done better. They even still managed to send drs to help other countries

The Cuban doctors sent abroad on missions like this are essentially trafficked labor, with no choice in the matter, as this article in the BBC documents. And the export sanctions specifically exclude food, medicines and medical equipment.

The hidden world of the doctors Cuba sends overseas

I think britians opinion of britain has always been higher than the rest of the world

Isn’t that the same for all countries.

Do you think that French people think France is not very good

Or Americans think they are a little mediocre?

@LaurieMarlow Every country in the world has had the same issue with PPE except SK. Everyone. Lack of PPE is not the fault of Boris,Trump, anyone else. Its world wide.

So as you are back to the thread OP will you answer the questions, how big is your sample size and what countries are they from?

Every country in the world has had the same issue with PPE

Did you read the link? I don’t think anywhere hasn’t been able to provide gowns. It’s staggering.

@nellythenarwhal Inwill confirm that. But that issue was more American than British. When I treated Brits in Afghanistan they never complained about lack of equipment. Meanwhile my husband had to send me a couple pairs of boots,uniforms and HAD to send me plates for my flak jacket and he went I had to do the same

@LarieMarlow Japan had to ask donations for rain coats to use as gowns....Problems EVERYWHERE EXCEPT SK

My brexitteer friends are all over the place. I feel for them.

One minute they were: We don't need to trade with the EU, we'll trade with the rest of the world.
Now they are: We mustn't trade with China or America. They're criminals.

One minute they were: We'll get £350 mil a week for the NHS.
Now they are: The NHS don't need money and never did.

One minute they were: It's democracy innit.
Now they are: Do not criticise the Govt. That's not acceptable.

One minute they were: Get low-earning immigrants out.
Now they are: Oh we must clap for the carers and the NHS.

Unfortunately, they elected a load of privileged cheats and liars. So yeah, of course we're losing influence overseas.
Foreign friends are bewildered by our decline.

I have to say I agree with AnnUumellemahaye point to a degree.

The nationalistic fervour of brexit and the ensuing misplaced patrotism based on visions of past nostalgic greatness, is not something only the British are suspectible to.

The difference is our politicians were naive (or overly confident) enough to give a referendum presented in ridiculously simplistic yes and no terms with no required safety margin for either side to 'win'.

I do not doubt for one second that if France, Germany, Italy, Hungary, Greece etc were to offer their citizens the same choice, the same the result would be similar. Naturally their governments won't and dare not offer their people a referendum on continued membership because they know this. Essentially they are not stupid. They know what would happen. Immigration would be one the biggest catalysts. Some of those countries have a bigger resurgence of the far right than we do to begin with.

Nationalistic pride is a pretty strong force that often overrides reason once it takes effect, especially if you have an overly self invested media willing to up the ante. At that point it is like a Tsunami.

Japan had to ask donations for rain coats to use as gowns.

And they got them and provided full length gowns.

Which the UK is now unable to do.

With regards to covid I do agree that we look incompetent . Not so sure it affects our 'soft power' so much however.

LaurieMarlow - Osaka in Japan has been asking citizens for donations of raincoats www.news18.com/news/world/japan-city-seeks-raincoats-as-emergency-protection-for-staff-fighting-coronavirus-2578687.html

How does Brazil look in all this.

@MrsNettlea link for?

Brazil looks shit, America looks shit. Sweden is ...jury's out.

UK looks pretty shit.

But that's a win, right!

@Helmetbymidnight Everywhere did shit but SK

I dont think not being able to provide gowns is staggering.

Before covid gowns were only ever used in surgery, lots and lots of aerosol generating procedures were done without gowns, without flimsy aprons. Now everyone in the hospital is using gowns for anything aerosol generating, thats a much higher demand on gowns. And where are they gonna come from? There are only x amount of PPE in the world, if the demand massively increases (which it has) where is it gonna come from?

Everywhere did shit but SK

No, Greece, Germany, NewZealand, Denmark, Taiwan, all doing pretty well.

Its not just our poor covid response that is losing us influence and respect.

That would be courtesy of Brexit.

Not this recent corona crisis.

I'm in Ireland so we look to Britain a lot. Our news and weather covers Britain and we are always aware of what's going on there (not reciprocated, as revealed by Brexit). Anyway, Brexit showed a country who were in no way cohesive and had no idea what they were doing and where they were going.

As a nation who looked up to our big neighbour this was shocking and scary (if they don't know what they're doing how will our lot know). Luckily we had a government who (more or less, definitely not perfectly but better than previous ones and better than our neighbours) pulled together and focused. (Btw it didn't save the government who got their lowest ever ratings and got ousted at the recent February elections but have saved their asses by being totally on the ball re Coronavirus Crisis But I digress)

Boris Johnson was the cherry on the cake. What sticks in my mind was a clip of Boris being asked the price of milk and saying, in his pompous voice, I don't know but I can tell you the price of a bottle of champagne! (to Irish readers, imo, this is the equivalent of David Cullinane's "..tiocfadh ár lá" and then his becoming Taoiseach!).

We still follow your news, look at, and worry about your news, but you are no longer the big sibling nation to be looked up to. Everyone needs someone to look up to and hopefully we will still have the EU and their member states after this. I lived in the UK for years and had a wonderful time, I have wonderful neighbours who moved here from the UK. That closeness should have been treasured and nurtured on both sides but we (speaking from the pov of those i speak to) are mostly grateful that we have the EU's support as we are a small island who need allies. It's important to remember that.