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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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

209 replies

alloutoffucks · 17/04/2020 13:38

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.

OP posts:
Helmetbymidnight · 18/04/2020 17:42

whats the criteria then ann- who is allowed to criticise the govt?

Clavinova · 18/04/2020 17:48

Is it Clavinova, who lives in Australia but is one the more ardent brexiteers on this site?

Complete tosh - I live near the Thames!

Helmetbymidnight · 18/04/2020 17:49

ah ive mistaken you for the australian brexiteer. my apologies.

were you born here clarinova, we dont want any foreign bloods getting uppity do we?

Clavinova · 18/04/2020 17:52

were you born here clarinova, we dont want any foreign bloods getting uppity do we?

Yes, I was born here, plus both my parents, but one set of grandparents are French.

Theduchessstill · 18/04/2020 17:52

So you want her to disclose it so you can have a game of tit for tat and whataboutery. Great. That'll achieve so much. Whatever is or isn't happening in her country change nothing about the clusterfuck that's playing out here.

AnnUumellemahaye · 19/04/2020 07:02

I see the OP is on another thread criticising the country’s response and handling of the Coronavirus. On it, she comments on the possibility that we will gradually start going back to work, opening shops etc, before the virus is fully quashed for the sake of the economy (and all the other really quite serious long term effects on our society caused by a recession or even a depression.)

She says ‘I will never forgive the British people if that happens. Never.’

Not the government. Not the prime minister. Not the economists and strategists and statisticians and virologists who are advising them about when it is relatively safe to start unlocking lockdown and who are in an impossible position trying to make sure that the cure is not ultimately more damaging than the problem.

No, it’s not them she’ll be angry with. It’s ‘the British’ she’ll never forgive.

See what I mean?

AnnUumellemahaye · 19/04/2020 07:06

Anyway I have NOTHING else to say on the matter. I just think she’s got a fucking cheek.

pokemongrief · 19/04/2020 10:22

I think your friends view very selectively. We are as a country observing lockdown as are other countries. I've seen very few people breaking lockdown. The PPE shortage is the same throughout the world. Our NHS has so far managed without being overwhelmed.

I think our response wasn't fast enough, but neither was it the slowest. We were just average. The government are not restricting payments to furloughed workers and supporting charities as best they can. It's not perfect but nothing in this pandemic is perfect.

As a small country we will lose influence anyway as larger more dynamic economies take over. Soft or hard power, is something we have lost anyway.

I have no idea of the point of this original post?

Leafyhouse · 23/04/2020 13:20

One thing has cropped up on the lunchtime news that made me think of this thread again. Apparently the nurse that looked after Boris Johnson is now a national hero in NZ, with personal congratulations from the PM. Likewise, the President of Portugal congratulated the male nurse within hours.

If the UK really was an insignificant country, we wouldn't evoke that kind of response. Not sure what my point is really, bit of a random brain fart, but hopefully it's an encouraging sign.

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