‘If liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear.’ These are the words that greet James Landale each morning as he enters the BBC headquarters. George Orwell’s quote about the importance of the truth makes him feel proud to be a journalist. “But,” he said. “I feel prouder to know that it was written by an Old Etonian.”
At the 16th annual Old Etonian Association lecture hosted at the Royal Geographical Society in London, James Landale (JSBP, JNBC 86) delivered a thought-provoking speech which examined how recent developments in US politics have influenced the state of the world.
Held on Tuesday 29 April, the date marked 100 days since the beginning of President Trump’s second term, which Landale believes is better prepared and much more ideological than his first. “The White House does not just wish to ‘Make America Great Again,’ it also wants to impose America’s will on the world.”
Surrounded by Old Etonians, Landale didn’t miss the opportunity to recall the “casual cruelties” of the colours test or to confide his enduring bafflement at the Field Game rules of ‘cornering’ and ‘sneaking’.
But what he did learn at Eton was self-discipline. A trait Landale credits as essential to his successful journalism career. He is currently the BBC’s Diplomatic Correspondent and has worked at the broadcaster for 22 years. Previously, he spent a decade at The Times as a Political Correspondent in London and Brussels.
Landale spoke on America’s retreat from international institutions such as the Paris Agreement, World Health Organisation, and the UN Human Rights Council. He felt that some decisions made in the White House were against UK national interests and were driven by a ‘might is right’ mentality. Questioning Trump’s commitment to NATO and Europe, he referred to ambassadors who reported to the House of Lords new differences of values, not just policy, under the new administration.
To conclude his speech, Landale urged the audience to look at the future with a realist’s eye. He said that such was the scale of the threat, there would be a new debate about defence spending and potentially even some form of conscription in the UK. He also called for a renewed battle against apathy towards misinformation, whether it’s spread through social media or by politicians. “We need to care about truth. We need to object if someone lies.”
Judging by the praise of departing attendees, Landale’s insightful and sobering lecture was a huge success and left everyone with a shared thought for next year’s speaker: James Landale will be hard to top.
