Exclusive:
Foreign Secretary David Lammy has urged his top diplomats to think like Lord Alan Sugar as they bang the drum for Britain abroad – in the Government’s latest push to fire up growth
David Lammy has ordered diplomats “to channel their inner Alan Sugar” as part of the battle to fire up economic growth.
The Foreign Secretary is understood to have told his team to think like The Apprentice star in a top-level meeting at the Foreign Office last week. It comes as the 77-year-old tycoon is back on screen in the latest series of the long-running BBC show.
Reviving the flagging economy has become the key plank of Keir Starmer’s strategy. But the Bank of England dealt a blow to the Government’s ambitions by slashing the growth forecast to 0.75% in 2025, down from its previous estimate of 1.5%.
Ministers have been told they must justify new ideas based on the potential for cranking up growth, as Chancellor Rachel Reeves vowed to go “further and faster” to get the economy going.
Last week, Mr Lammy told diplomats: “Driving economic growth is this Government’s number one mission, to deliver more jobs and more money in people’s pockets. That is why I am asking diplomats to channel their Alan Sugar and bang the drum for British business across the world.
“I’ve tasked diplomats to sell UK Plc, highlighting our country’s strengths from our top universities to our open economy and sound legal system.”
After a tricky first six months in office, the PM is now betting the house on getting the economy firing before the next election.
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The Prime Minister called in his top team for an extended Cabinet meeting in Lancaster House today after the Bank of England dealt a blow to efforts to fire up economic growth. The bank reduced interest rates to 4.5%, in a boost to mortgage-holders.
But policymakers also painted a gloomy picture for the UK economy by halving their growth forecast for this year and warning households to brace for higher inflation and cut economic growth forecasts.
Mr Starmer called in the Cabinet for a political meeting this morning, where Labour’s falling poll ratings and the upcoming local elections were expected to be discussed. The PM then chaired a full Cabinet meeting, where the focus was on the business of Government.
