Soft power sell-off: anger as British Council announces sale of historic Madrid building
Backlash grows among European staff against radical cuts to pay off Covid-era debt, with some accusing council of ‘colonial attitude’
TL;DR
- The British Council is selling its historic building in Madrid after 70 years, affecting thousands of students and staff.
- Staff protests and no-confidence votes are occurring across Europe, including in Spain and Italy, against radical cuts and restructuring.
- The financial crisis stems from a £197m debt from a Covid-era emergency loan with interest due in September.
- Staff criticize the organization's leadership, centralized decision-making, and perceived 'colonial attitude'.
- The British Council's senior management warns the organization could disappear within a decade without these drastic measures.
- Neil Kinnock, former Labour leader and British Council chair, states the cuts are forced by the Treasury and emphasizes the invaluable nature of the organization's soft power.