Should the UK reform the international departments of government after Brexit?
The UK\u2019s exit from the European Union has prompted many calls for the UK government to change the way it organises foreign policy, development aid, trade and security.\n\nSome argue that reform would help by giving a \u201csingle\u201d foreign policy, would allocate money more in line with the UK\u2019s interests \u2013 and would trim the number of ministers sitting at the cabinet table. Others retort that the UK has gone to great lengths to separate the goals of its foreign, aid and trade policies and mergers of departments would deliberately conflate those goals again.\n\nOur panel discussed whether the current arrangement supports foreign policy objectives, whether changes should be made and whether the UK can learn anything from other countries.\n\nOur panel included:\n\nCrispin Blunt MP, former chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee\nDr Leslie Vinjamuri, director of the US and the Americas Programme, Chatham House\nSophia Gaston, director of the British Foreign Policy Group\nThe event was chaired by Bronwen Maddox, director of the Institute for Government.\n\nThere was an opportunity for audience questions.