Lord Kinnock to resign after four and a half outstanding years as Chair of the British Council

He sent the following letter to the Foreign Secretary yesterday, 8 June.

‘In the wake of Glenys’ very welcome appointment as Minister of State in your Department last Friday I have reflected on my position as Chairman of the British Council.

Following my enquiries, I fully appreciate that you have taken the sensible decision that, because of my position as Chair of the Council, Glenys will not have responsibility for Public Diplomacy matters in your Ministerial team.

I have, nevertheless, come to the conclusion that the vitally important status of the British Council as an “arms length” Non-Departmental Public Body means that I cannot continue in the office of Chairman without risking the possibility of perceptions, at home or abroad, that the essential operational independence of the Council could be compromised because I am the husband of a Minister in the FCO, the sponsoring Department of the Council. Such perceptions would, of course, be misplaced. In the very nature of public diplomacy and the sometimes delicate relationships between countries and cultures that it requires, however, it is better to be absolutely clear that there cannot be even an inferred erosion of the necessary separation between Government and Council. My emphatic view is that this consideration must plainly apply for any Government and for the British Council at any time. I hope that you will understand and accept my feelings which are produced entirely by concern for the wellbeing of the Council.

My four and a half years at the British Council, working with people of very high quality and a great enlightened and creative sense of mission, have been among the most fulfilling of my life. I am grateful for the encouraging attitude taken by you and your predecessors, and for the support readily given by officials in the FCO and other Government Departments.

Naturally, I will continue to take an interest in the Council, especially since it is an organisation which is well led and continually taking effective initiatives that consistently earn understanding and respect for our country throughout the world.

I have some formalities to complete in the Council and will therefore leave the Chair at the next meeting of the Board of Trustees which is scheduled for 7th July. The formal provisions for the Chairmanship of the Board are set down in the Charter of the British Council. Since the very capable and experienced Deputy Chair, Gerard Lemos, has – in conformity with the Charter - previously been elected by the Board and approved by the Secretary of State, I suggest that he continues as Acting Chairman until such time that the appropriate Public Appointments procedures governing the selection of my successor are completed.

When I have your response I will inform the Chief Executive and other Council colleagues of my decision’.

Under the terms of the Charter governing the British Council the Deputy Chair, Gerard Lemos, will chair the British Council Board of Trustees.

Gerard Lemos said:

“For the last four and a half years Neil has been a tireless ambassador for the British Council and for the benefits of international cultural relations for the UK. We have been honoured by his leadership.  He connects with everyone he meets whether in the boardroom or classroom. We have hugely valued his role as Chair, respect the decision he has reached and he will be greatly missed by the Board of Trustees and the whole of the organisation.”

British Council Chief Executive Martin Davidson said:

“I would like to take this opportunity to pay a personal and organisational tribute to Lord Kinnock. The British Council has achieved so much since he became Chair in 2004 and that is in great part thanks to him.  I am confident that we will go on to achieve even more for the UK building on his legacy.”

- ENDS -

For more information, please contact the British Council press office on 0207 389 4872 or email antony.watson@britishcouncil.org

View a PDF of the press statement click here.

To view the letter from Lord Kinnock to David Miliband click here.

To view the letter from David Miliband to Lord Kinnock click here.

To download an image of Lord Kinnock click here.

Notes to Editors

• The British Council is a charity regulated by the Charities Commission and has operational independence from government. The Charities Commission has been informed of Neil Kinnock’s resignation.
• The British Council’s Royal Charter requires the Foreign Secretary to approve the appointment of the Chair of the British Council and accept their resignation.
• The British Council has a Board of Trustees with roles advertised and appointed in line with the normal Charity/Public Appointment principles. The role of Chair will be advertised and appointed in due course.
• The role of Chair of the British Council is unremunerated.  Lord Kinnock has been in the role of Chair for four and a half years. He will formally leave his post at the next Board of Trustees and Annual General Meeting on 7th July.
• The British Council is the UK’s international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations.
• We work in over 100 countries worldwide to build engagement and trust for the UK through the exchange of knowledge and ideas between people.
• We work in the arts, education, science, sport and governance and last year we reached over 128 million people.
• We are a non-political organisation which operates at arm’s length from government.
• Our total turnover in 2007/8 was £565 million, of which our grant-in-aid from the British government was £197 million.
• For every pound of grant we receive, we generate an additional £1.92. For more information, please visit www.britishcouncil.org