Britain is increasingly losing power and influence in Europe as the 10th anniversary of the Brexit vote approaches next month – and it is hurting the UK economy, analysts say.
The British Council, which was formed to spread the country’s liberal values and counter extremism across Europe, is cutting 80 per cent of its staff in Italy, which employees say will effectively close it down. More cuts and closures are expected in Spain, Austria, Croatia, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia.
Staff at the British Council in Italy staged a one-day strike there last week and are planning more industrial action on 4 June to protest the cuts which, they say, will mean the end of the organisation in the country.
Shorts
Out of 130 of its teaching staff in Rome, Milan and Naples, 108 face losing their jobs. The move would end 80 years of British Council English language teaching, which is part of the organisation’s work to promote British culture and education around the world.
