Read the latest news about The APPG for the British Council and Soft Power, and find out about related events below.
2026 British Council and Soft Power APPG holds Annual General Meeting
The British Council and Soft Power All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) held its Annual General Meeting on 20 January 2026, reviewing the Group’s work over the past year and setting out priorities for the year ahead. The minutes can be viewed here.
During the meeting, Members unanimously approved the group’s annual report, financial statement and due diligence statement, demonstrating continued confidence in the APPG’s governance and management arrangements.
The AGM also confirmed the election of officers for the year ahead. Fabian Hamilton MP was unanimously re-elected as Chair, supported by Vice-Chairs Monica Harding MP, Chris Webb MP and Lord Randall of Uxbridge.
Members went on to discuss potential future activity, building on the APPG’s role as a cross-party forum focused on the contribution of culture, education, and international people-to-people connections to the UK’s global influence. Proposed plans include parliamentary inquiries, youth and alumni engagement, regional briefings, and parliamentary showcases highlighting the UK’s cultural and educational strengths.
The meeting reaffirmed the APPG’s ongoing commitment to strengthening parliamentary understanding of soft power and the UK’s international cultural relations.
To find out more about the APPG and its work, get in touch with Thomas Brayford, Political Affairs Manager, who provides the Secretariat. Thomas.Brayford@britishcouncil.org
2025 Global perceptions report launch
The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for the British Council and Soft Power co-hosted the parliamentary launch of the Global Perceptions report on 18 November, bringing together MPs, stakeholders, and experts to hear the findings of the new report.
The Global Perceptions report presents new evidence on how the UK is viewed internationally, showing particularly strong levels of trust among young people worldwide. It highlights the contribution of the UK’s culture, education system, language and creative industries to shaping international perceptions and sustaining long-term global relationships.
Speakers at the APPG co-hosted event underlined that soft power remains one of the UK’s most distinctive and effective assets, helping to build trust, attract partners and sustain influence globally. They also emphasised that soft power cannot be taken for granted and requires sustained investment and political support if the UK is to remain a trusted and influential global partner.
The importance of this message was reinforced by contributions from the Chair of the APPG, Fabian Hamilton MP, who highlighted the strategic value of the UK’s cultural relations and international engagement at a time of intensifying global competition and increasingly complex shared challenges
2023 Annual General Meeting
The British Council APPG held its annual general meeting (AGM) on 16th May 2023 from 11:00-12:00. To download the minutes please click here or email the APPG secretariat ruth.loeffler@britishcouncil.org for further details.
Meeting with British Council Chief Executive Scott McDonald
The British Council APPG held a meeting with British Council Chief Executive Scott McDonald on 12th July 2022, from 10:00-11:00. To download the minutes please click here or email the APPG secretariat via ruth.loeffler@britishcouncil.org for further details.
2022 Annual General Meeting
The British Council APPG held its annual general meeting (AGM) on 1st March 2022 from 16:00-17:00. To download the minutes please click here or email the APPG secretariat ruth.loeffler@britishcouncil.org for further details.
Introductory meeting with British Council Chief Executive Scott McDonald
The British Council APPG held an introductory meeting with British Council Chief Executive Scott McDonald on Monday 15 November, from 10:30-11:30. To download the minutes please click here or email the APPG secretariat via ruth.loeffler@britishcouncil.org for further details.
2021 Annual General Meeting
The British Council APPG held its annual general meeting (AGM) on 4th March 2021 from 10:00-11:00. To download the minutes please click here or email the APPG secretariat ruth.loeffler@britishcouncil.org for further details.
2019 Annual General Meeting
The British Council APPG held its annual general meeting (AGM) on 17th July 2019 from 14:00-15:00 in Parliament. Sir Ciaran Devane attended. Please email the APPG secretariat ruth.loeffler@britishcouncil.org for further details.
Meeting on British Council in countries with security risk and AGM
On 10 July 2018, the British Council APPG held a meeting with Ciarán Devane, Chief Executive of the British Council, and Kate Ewart-Biggs, Global Network Director British Council, hosted by John Baron MP on British Council in Countries with security risk. The meeting was followed by an AGM, chaired by John Baron MP and attended by Lord Purvis of Tweed, Baroness Thornton, Baroness Suttie and Damian Green MP. John Baron MP was re-elected as Chair, Stephen Kinnock MP as Treasurer and the following were re-elected as Vice-Chairs: Baroness Hooper, Baroness Grey-Thompson, Baroness Coussins, Lord Alderdice, Baroness Suttie, Mark Prisk MP, Lord Purvis of Tweed, Conor McGinn MP, and Lord Watson of Invergowrie.
New Chair and Officers elected
The British Council APPG held an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) on 17 May 2018. John Baron MP was elected as the new Chair of the group, and David Warburton MP stood down. The following new officers were elected: Baroness Suttie, Lord Purvis, Conor McGinn MP and Lord Watson. Lord MacLennan of Rogart stood down from his position as Officer. The following members of the House of Lords and House of Commons were present at the EGM: David Warburton MP, John Baron MP, Baroness Hooper, Lord Alderdice, Lord Purvis, Lord Watson of Invergowrie, Lord McInnes, Lord German, Lord Hunt of Chesterton, and Lord Dholakia.
Launch of the languages for the future report
On 19 December 2017, The British Council APPG and Modern Languages APPG launched the British Council’s Languages for the future report. The reception was jointly hosted by Mark Prisk MP and Baroness Coussins. Over seventy policymakers and sector experts were in attendance. The report recommends that now is the moment to initiate a bold new policy to improve language learning for a transformational ‘Global Britain’, and that languages should form an integral part of the strategic review of skills that the UK will need post-Brexit, and that schools should prioritise language-learning alongside science, technology engineering and maths.
2017 Launch of APPG inquiry report on 'Building young people’s resilience to violent extremism in the Middle East and North Africa
On 12 December 2017, the British Council APPG launched the APPG’s report on Building young people’s resilience to violent extremism in the Middle East and North Africa. The panel was made up of: Rebecca Crozier, Regional Director, Europe and MENA, International Alert; Professor Tahir Abbas, visiting Senior Fellow, Department of Government, London School of Economics and Political Science; and Senior Research Fellow, RUSI; Sir Ciarán Devane, Chief Executive, British Council Baroness Hodgson, Member British Council APPG Inquiry Committee; Stephen Gethins MP, Member British Council APPG Inquiry Committee. The launch was attended by fifty policymakers and sector experts.
2017 New Officers elected
On 18 July 2017, the British Council APPG AGM was held. Baroness Suttie, Lord Maclennan of Rogart, and Mark Prisk MP were voted in as Vice Chairs. John Glen MP stepped down as Secretary of the APPG given his new role as Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport).