Boris Johnson has been handed a template for turning his dream of a Global Britain into reality by big hitters from across the political spectrum.
Getting the country “match fit” to strike deals, remaining humble and showing leadership without antagonising neighbours sit high on the priority list as Mr Johnson tries to map out a route away from the EU to the uplands of greater prosperity.
When he came to power, he promised to create a country able to sit at the top table of international trade.
A key point of Brexit, Mr Johnson said, was to detach from the giant trade bloc and strike rewarding deals, reaching untapped markets without the restriction of EU regulation and collaboration.
The most significant shift in its economic policy
Now, an influential group of politicians, economists and diplomats have contributed their ideas on how to forge a political consensus that will at very least not leave the country worse off.
One of the UK’s leading thinkers on politics and economics, Ed Balls, led a paper on how to present Britain’s new face to the world.
Mr Balls said that the key challenge for the government was to turn the political slogan of Global Britain into an economic reality.
The Harvard University paper, Finding Global Britain, says the UK is embarking on "the most significant shift in its economic policy" since it joined the EU.
The pandemic crisis, climate and tensions between China, Russia and America could all offer opportunities for Britain to “showcase its ability to lead, outside the EU, on the global stage”, the paper says.
Finding a balance
Any thoughts that Global Britain has a “hubristic expectation” of a return to imperialism with 19th-century levels of colonial trade and political dominance should be firmly quashed.
But by the same token the UK does not need to become “Britain Diminished”, with the pessimistic outlook that post-Brexit means years of economic and political decline.
With an opportunity to re-establish its global standing by hosting the G7 and Cop26 climate summit this year, the UK’s approach should be as a collaborative equal rather than “Britain knows best”.
That mentality cost the UK dearly at the outset of Covid-19 pandemic, the paper said, but the current vaccine success shows Britain as an “outward-looking, humble and progressive player”.
Beyond all else it is vital to retain good relations with the EU which, even if there were a multitude of other trade deals, would still remain Britain’s biggest business partner.
There is much to learn about how to operate in a less friendly world
But therein lies a danger, in that antagonising Europe could severely handicap trade, Labour’s Emily Thornberry said during an online debate on the report.
“Boris Johnson told us that global Britain would just happen if we just all closed our eyes and believed strongly enough,” said Ms Thornberry, the opposition party’s spokeswoman on international trade.
“And we've chosen as a country to go through that pain because of the fervent belief of this government that the gains to be had from us doing free trade deals with the rest of the world will, in the end, outweigh the losses from damaging our trading relationships with Europe. And that's it …”
Mr Balls, a former Labour minister, drew attention to another pitfall for Mr Johnson.
He said that giving too much sway to the “very rustic, backward-looking, nationalist, ‘little England’” for political gain would “be a disaster for us on the international stage”.
“If the government was to take a view that the Europeans are no good and we were better, that would be damaging to us,” Mr Balls said.
Britain’s success will depend on how it moves away from EU trade.
The trick is to strike new trade relationships that will not antagonise the EU, the report suggests.
The best deals for Britain
It also warns that long-term multilateral deals are difficult and quickly struck bilateral agreements offer only marginal benefits.
“When looking at trade strategies at this minute it’s a pretty murky world,” said Wayne Swan, the former Australian finance minister.
“It’s fair to say that there is much to learn about how to operate in a less friendly world.”
The debate also heard from Mr Johnson’s brother, Jo Johnson, a former Tory MP and universities minister, who broadly set out how he thought Global Britain could be successful.
“We need to earn our place in the world and we need to get out there and get match fit,” he said.
“In doing so that will require heavy investment in skills, in training, investment into hard and soft infrastructure, schools, hospitals, railways, airports and so forth.”
Examining the areas for brokerage
Britain’s expertise and international standing in financial services, climate change and global taxation are “areas for brokerage", the report said.
The UK could show leadership on the pandemic recovery through technology and multilateral tax reform, while also becoming a leader in the vaccination race driving “post-pandemic resilience”.
“We’re bigger than Singapore and Canada and more confident as a global player than Japan,” a Cabinet Office official told the authors.
“Between the US and EU, we must be smart and nimble.”
You cannot play a global role when the country is disintegrating
Global Britain needed to be a “leapfrog strategy", suggested Tony Danker, former director general of the Confederation of British Industry.
“We need to use our regulatory freedoms to get to the world of 2030 faster, as opposed to simply thinking how to show Brussels this has all been worth it.”
Creating a global Britain after Brexit
Brexit has been an unpleasant and difficult separation for Europe and “after a divorce you have a lot of recriminations", former French ambassador to the UK Sylvie Bermann told a Royal United Services Institute online seminar.
Ms Bermann said Britain would have to undertake a “reconstruction” with its major partner, at the same time as building relationships with other powers.
“If you want to be a Global Britain it means that you have other relationships and if you have a bad relationship with China or Russia, or the US – as Biden was very critical about Brexit saying it’s a historical mistake – it's going to be very difficult to defend your values and at the same time increase your trade,” she said.
Ms Thornberry, who called the trade aspect of Brexit a “fundamental leap of faith”, said the Conservative government was in a hurry.
“They have bet the farm on Global Britain before even realising what it was that slogan meant," she said.
"Now they need to start showing that it's paying off without really knowing how to deliver ‘Global Britain’.”
The term could become redundant if, largely as a result of Brexit, Scotland votes for independence and Northern Ireland for a united Ireland.
Aside from trade deals, Boris Johnson has a fight on his hands to prevent his slogan becoming ‘Global England’.
“You cannot play a global role when the country is disintegrating,” one EU official said.
The issue of immigration
The UK, regulation-wise, is a lot closer to the EU than it thinks
While immigration was significant for many Britons who voted to leave the EU, the country is still very dependent on high-skilled foreign labour.
A senior Bank of England official said regulated immigration similar to that of Australia would be popular because, unlike the EU’s “free movement” slogan, it would demonstrate that it was under control and “the UK can set quite an open migration policy”.
Sajid Javid, former chancellor of the exchequer, said fewer unskilled migrants “will be good because it will force businesses to increase productivity of a more limited, more expensive workforce”.
As Britain emerges from the pandemic cocoon it will find itself outside the comfort of the “giant bloc” of the EU as “a mid-size, independent global power”.
How this year will determine Britain's future
What it does in 2021 will largely determine its future.
A roadshow redolent of its imperial trading past would be “spectacularly unsuccessful", Mr Swan said.
A senior European Commission official said it would be difficult to “foresee anyone trusting” Britain as a global leader or broker when the UK had just abandoned the “deepest international agreement”.
Divorce recriminations aside, Mark Carney, the former Bank of England chief, advised that as a former world power it would be hard for the UK to let the “big blocs get the glory”, but it had to be “tactical and appropriately humble".
In the end, after trying to strike a multitude of trade deals, Britain might find itself far more attached to Europe.
“When the political dust settles, then we will realise that the UK, regulation-wise, is a lot closer to the EU than it thinks,” said Maria Demertzis of the Bruegel think tank.
more from Janine di Giovanni
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Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
Dubai World Cup Carnival Thursday race card
6.30pm: Dubai Millennium Stakes Group Three US$200,000 (Turf) 2,000m
7.05pm: Handicap $135,000 (T) 1,600m
7.40pm: UAE Oaks Group Three $250,000 (Dirt) 1,900m
8.15pm: Zabeel Mile Group Two $250,000 (T) 1,600m
8.50pm: Meydan Sprint Group Two $250,000 (T) 1,000m
9.25pm: Handicap $135,000 (D) 1,400m
10pm: Handicap $135,000 (T) 1,600m
The bio
Favourite vegetable: Broccoli
Favourite food: Seafood
Favourite thing to cook: Duck l'orange
Favourite book: Give and Take by Adam Grant, one of his professors at University of Pennsylvania
Favourite place to travel: Home in Kuwait.
Favourite place in the UAE: Al Qudra lakes
UAE squad
Rohan Mustafa (captain), Ashfaq Ahmed, Ghulam Shabber, Rameez Shahzad, Mohammed Boota, Mohammed Usman, Adnan Mufti, Shaiman Anwar, Ahmed Raza, Imran Haider, Qadeer Ahmed, Mohammed Naveed, Amir Hayat, Zahoor Khan
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Other acts on the Jazz Garden bill
Sharrie Williams
The American singer is hugely respected in blues circles due to her passionate vocals and songwriting. Born and raised in Michigan, Williams began recording and touring as a teenage gospel singer. Her career took off with the blues band The Wiseguys. Such was the acclaim of their live shows that they toured throughout Europe and in Africa. As a solo artist, Williams has also collaborated with the likes of the late Dizzy Gillespie, Van Morrison and Mavis Staples.
Lin Rountree
An accomplished smooth jazz artist who blends his chilled approach with R‘n’B. Trained at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, Rountree formed his own band in 2004. He has also recorded with the likes of Kem, Dwele and Conya Doss. He comes to Dubai on the back of his new single Pass The Groove, from his forthcoming 2018 album Stronger Still, which may follow his five previous solo albums in cracking the top 10 of the US jazz charts.
Anita Williams
Dubai-based singer Anita Williams will open the night with a set of covers and swing, jazz and blues standards that made her an in-demand singer across the emirate. The Irish singer has been performing in Dubai since 2008 at venues such as MusicHall and Voda Bar. Her Jazz Garden appearance is career highlight as she will use the event to perform the original song Big Blue Eyes, the single from her debut solo album, due for release soon.
Company Profile
Founders: Tamara Hachem and Yazid Erman
Based: Dubai
Launched: September 2019
Sector: health technology
Stage: seed
Investors: Oman Technology Fund, angel investor and grants from Sharjah's Sheraa and Ma'an Abu Dhabi
SERIES INFO
Afghanistan v Zimbabwe, Abu Dhabi Sunshine Series
All matches at the Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Test series
1st Test: Zimbabwe beat Afghanistan by 10 wickets
2nd Test: Wednesday, 10 March – Sunday, 14 March
Play starts at 9.30am
T20 series
1st T20I: Wednesday, 17 March
2nd T20I: Friday, 19 March
3rd T20I: Saturday, 20 March
TV
Supporters in the UAE can watch the matches on the Rabbithole channel on YouTube
What is dialysis?
Dialysis is a way of cleaning your blood when your kidneys fail and can no longer do the job.
It gets rid of your body's wastes, extra salt and water, and helps to control your blood pressure. The main cause of kidney failure is diabetes and hypertension.
There are two kinds of dialysis — haemodialysis and peritoneal.
In haemodialysis, blood is pumped out of your body to an artificial kidney machine that filter your blood and returns it to your body by tubes.
In peritoneal dialysis, the inside lining of your own belly acts as a natural filter. Wastes are taken out by means of a cleansing fluid which is washed in and out of your belly in cycles.
It isn’t an option for everyone but if eligible, can be done at home by the patient or caregiver. This, as opposed to home haemodialysis, is covered by insurance in the UAE.
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
New Zealand squad
Tim Southee (capt), Trent Boult (games 4 and 5), Colin de Grandhomme, Lockie Ferguson (games 1-3), Martin Guptill, Scott Kuggeleijn, Daryl Mitchell, Colin Munro, Jimmy Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Tim Seifert, Ish Sodhi, Ross Taylor, Blair Tickner
ITU Abu Dhabi World Triathlon
England squad
Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford, Nick Pope, Aaron Ramsdale
Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Conor Coady, Marc Guehi, Reece James, Harry Maguire, Tyrone Mings, Luke Shaw, John Stones, Ben White
Midfielders: Jude Bellingham, Conor Gallagher, Mason Mount, Jordan Henderson, Declan Rice, James Ward-Prowse
Forwards: Tammy Abraham, Phil Foden, Jack Grealish, Harry Kane, Bukayo Saka, Emile Smith Rowe, Raheem Sterling
Three ways to limit your social media use
Clinical psychologist, Dr Saliha Afridi at The Lighthouse Arabia suggests three easy things you can do every day to cut back on the time you spend online.
1. Put the social media app in a folder on the second or third screen of your phone so it has to remain a conscious decision to open, rather than something your fingers gravitate towards without consideration.
2. Schedule a time to use social media instead of consistently throughout the day. I recommend setting aside certain times of the day or week when you upload pictures or share information.
3. Take a mental snapshot rather than a photo on your phone. Instead of sharing it with your social world, try to absorb the moment, connect with your feeling, experience the moment with all five of your senses. You will have a memory of that moment more vividly and for far longer than if you take a picture of it.
MATCH INFO
Champions League last 16, first leg
Tottenham v RB Leipzig, Wednesday, midnight (UAE)
'Nope'
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TWISTERS
Director: Lee Isaac Chung
Starring: Glen Powell, Daisy Edgar-Jones, Anthony Ramos
Rating: 2.5/5
GOODBYE%20JULIA
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More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
Student Of The Year 2
Director: Punit Malhotra
Stars: Tiger Shroff, Tara Sutaria, Ananya Pandey, Aditya Seal
1.5 stars
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
england euro squad
Goalkeepers: Dean Henderson (Man Utd), Sam Johnstone (West Brom), Jordan Pickford (Everton)
Defenders: John Stones (Man City), Luke Shaw (Man Utd), Harry Maguire (Man Utd), Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Kyle Walker (Man City), Tyrone Mings (Aston Villa), Reece James (Chelsea), Conor Coady (Wolves), Ben Chilwell (Chelsea), Kieran Trippier (Atletico Madrid)
Midfielders: Mason Mount (Chelsea), Declan Rice (West Ham), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund), Kalvin Phillips (Leeds)
Forwards: Harry Kane (Tottenham), Marcus Rashford (Man Utd), Raheem Sterling (Man City), Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Everton), Phil Foden (Man City), Jack Grealish (Aston Villa), Jadon Sancho (Borussia Dortmund), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
The full list of 2020 Brit Award nominees (winners in bold):
British group
Coldplay
Foals
Bring me the Horizon
D-Block Europe
Bastille
British Female
Mabel
Freya Ridings
FKA Twigs
Charli xcx
Mahalia
British male
Harry Styles
Lewis Capaldi
Dave
Michael Kiwanuka
Stormzy
Best new artist
Aitch
Lewis Capaldi
Dave
Mabel
Sam Fender
Best song
Ed Sheeran and Justin Bieber - I Don’t Care
Mabel - Don’t Call Me Up
Calvin Harrison and Rag’n’Bone Man - Giant
Dave - Location
Mark Ronson feat. Miley Cyrus - Nothing Breaks Like A Heart
AJ Tracey - Ladbroke Grove
Lewis Capaldi - Someone you Loved
Tom Walker - Just You and I
Sam Smith and Normani - Dancing with a Stranger
Stormzy - Vossi Bop
International female
Ariana Grande
Billie Eilish
Camila Cabello
Lana Del Rey
Lizzo
International male
Bruce Springsteen
Burna Boy
Tyler, The Creator
Dermot Kennedy
Post Malone
Best album
Stormzy - Heavy is the Head
Michael Kiwanuka - Kiwanuka
Lewis Capaldi - Divinely Uninspired to a Hellish Extent
Dave - Psychodrama
Harry Styles - Fine Line
Rising star
Celeste
Joy Crookes
beabadoobee
French business
France has organised a delegation of leading businesses to travel to Syria. The group was led by French shipping giant CMA CGM, which struck a 30-year contract in May with the Syrian government to develop and run Latakia port. Also present were water and waste management company Suez, defence multinational Thales, and Ellipse Group, which is currently looking into rehabilitating Syrian hospitals.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Look north
BBC business reporters, like a new raft of government officials, are being removed from the national and international hub of London and surely the quality of their work must suffer.
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
SERIE A FIXTURES
All times UAE ( 4 GMT)
Saturday
Roma v Udinese (5pm)
SPAL v Napoli (8pm)
Juventus v Torino (10.45pm)
Sunday
Sampdoria v AC Milan (2.30pm)
Inter Milan v Genoa (5pm)
Crotone v Benevento (5pm)
Verona v Lazio (5pm)
Cagliari v Chievo (5pm)
Sassuolo v Bologna (8pm)
Fiorentina v Atalanta (10.45pm)
