The manipulation of naive Britain

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Sunday, 20 July 2025 Good morning and welcome to From the Editor. This week, the UK sanctioned 18 Russian spies – a diplomatic tactic to show that the lights are still on in the Foreign Office. David Blair, The Telegraph’s Chief Foreign Affairs Commentator and a former civil servant, warns of the dangers of the Government’s persistence with its “engagement” international relations technique and the need for a new plan for dealing with China. I’d love to hear what you think of this newsletter. You can email me your feedback here. Allister Heath, Sunday Telegraph Editor P.S. You can now enjoy everything The Telegraph has to offer in our summer sale. Claim 1 year of full access for just £25. Today’s headlines Anti-Semitism rife in UK schools Middle-class families could face higher water bills to subsidise poorer households ‘Influencer’ who went viral at Wimbledon is actually AI Cast member unfurls Palestinian flag in Royal Opera House protest The staggering increase in Britain’s parking fines Rachel Reeves eyes £5bn Bitcoin sale to help plug black hole Proud to be British Read more from journalists who champion our culture, history and values Enjoy 1 year for £25 in our Summer Sale Subscribe now   I saw first-hand how Putin and Xi manipulate the naive British state David Blair Chief Foreign Affairs Commentator   Hostile states like Russia and China pose an increasing threat to Britain, so it has never been more important for our diplomats to avoid any illusions when dealing with them. Ever since Vladimir Putin’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Britain has been at the forefront of backing Kyiv and maximising the pressure on Russia. On Friday, the Foreign Office named and sanctioned 18 Russian spies accused of covert bombings or acts of sabotage in Britain and elsewhere. Yet before 2022, British diplomacy was not always so resolute about countering Putin. I fear we’re still hampered by an ingrained naivety that now spells danger in our dealings with China. I spent nearly eight years in the Foreign Office and Downing Street writing speeches for three foreign secretaries and one prime minister. I found that our diplomats profoundly believe in “engagement” as the answer to any international problem. For friendly countries, they are right, but dealing with hostile states involves cost, risk and moral compromise. Some diplomats instinctively underestimate the price of engagement with hostile powers and this may, unwittingly, make the world more dangerous. In 2016, I was asked to remove the phrase “Russian aggression” from a draft article for Boris Johnson, the then foreign secretary, because we were seeking more engagement with Russia. As late as 2019, I remember one expert saying that Putin’s seizure of Crimea was not an “imperial” but a “defensive” project, though Putin himself was publicly saying the opposite. If you start with the belief that engagement is the answer, then it’s tempting to think that it can still work even for an implacably hostile state. You risk defining the problem to suit the solution, not vice versa. As we re-engage with China, it’s vital that we don’t repeat the same mistakes. Read the full story here ➤   Opinion and analysis   Simon Heffer Author, historian, columnist and biographer Britain cannot afford to keep Rachel Reeves any longer Continue reading ➤     Janet Daley Columnist Trump’s links with Jeffrey Epstein might destroy his presidency Continue reading ➤     Daniel Hannan Author and columnist Starmer and the EU are still trying to punish Britain for Brexit Continue reading ➤   Time spent wisely See another side to today’s biggest stories with Britain’s leading comment writers Enjoy 1 year for £25 in our Summer Sale Subscribe now   Must reads The truancy timebomb threatening to blow up the economy The five reasons you should go for an evening walk after eating Julian Clary: The BBC banned me from saying ‘lesbian’ before 9pm Katie Morley: ‘My fiancé died days before our wedding – now Aviva won’t pay me his £400k’ What men get wrong about socks, and how to dress from the feet up     The best of the Telegraph   Find the best-value private schools in your area There’s no shortage of league tables ranking private schools by academic performance. What’s harder to judge is whether the education on offer is worth the investment. Since private schools began charging VAT from January 1, value for money has never been more crucial for parents weighing up fee-paying options. The Telegraph’s searchable tool – updated in June with new data – helps make sense of what you’re really paying for. You can search for schools in your area and filter by what matters: age group, gender, boarding status, and fee band. Each entry shows annual fees, A-level results, facilities – and our exclusive value-for-money score. Click here to use our tool ➤   Discuss Every day our journalists discuss the day’s biggest issues with subscribers on our app and on our website. Diana Henry, Telegraph Food Columnist, advises one reader on the best way to cook pork and lamb chops. Varrun Gautamjaat What would you suggest as the ideal cooking time for pan-fried juicy pork chops and lamb chops, per side?   Diana Henry With pork chops the size matters. If the chop is off the bone and about 1cm (half an inch) thick it should take 2-3 minutes per side over a medium heat. With thicker chops (approx 2cm – ¾ inch – or more), you’ll need to give them about 5-6 minutes per side. Take them off the heat, cover and let them rest for about 4 minutes so the juices can set before you serve. With lamb, there’s a bit more leeway because they can be served rare. For medium-rare lamb chops, it can take anything from 2-4 minutes per side, depending on their thickness. Coming up today Michael Mosbacher will be in the comments at 11am, discussing his piece on how everyday spending increases illegal immigration.   Free thinkers wanted Discuss and debate today’s biggest talking points, directly with our journalists Enjoy 1 year for £25 in our Summer Sale Subscribe now   Listen Click below to enjoy one of our agenda-setting podcasts   Puzzles Test your trivia skills and put the answers below in order. Play all three rounds of today’s trivia game, Sorted, plus our full range of brainteasers on Telegraph Puzzles. Get a head start on today’s Cross Atlantic by cracking this clue: Friday’s Panagram was FLAMMABLE. Come back tomorrow for the solution to today’s puzzle.   Newsletters Read and sign up to our newsletters Healthy Living • Tuesday Improve your diet, sex, sleep and gut health – and live life to the fullest + Sign up   Trump Unpacked • Friday Find out how the 47th president is reshaping America and the wider world + Sign up   Matt • Subscriber exclusive Step inside the mind of our master cartoonist, plus an exclusive unseen sketch + Sign up   1 year. Just £25 Subscribe now

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