British Council's £197m Debt Should Be Mostly Written Off, MPs Urge

The British Council's £197 million debt should largely be written off by converting it into a grant, according to the Commons Public Accounts Committee. The MPs criticized the government for lacking a 'positive vision' for the cultural relations organization, which delivers an estimated £1 billion in soft power value to the UK annually. The committee called on the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) to set out further support for the council, which has been reeling from job cuts and asset sales. The report highlights the tension between the council's financial struggles and its strategic importance in promoting British influence abroad. The MPs' recommendation signals growing parliamentary pressure for a bailout of the soft-power flagship. Without intervention, the council's ability to operate globally could be further diminished, undermining the UK's cultural diplomacy at a critical time.