As Boris Johnson steps down many will repeat the line that he got “the big calls right” on Covid, but another big call and campaign he got right started before he became Prime Minister. As Foreign Secretary Boris became a champion for girls’ education, something which has changed the lives of millions around the world. As Prime Minister he appointed Helen Grant as his special envoy on girls and last year at The Global Education Summit Boris helped raise $4 billion from donors for the Global Partnership for girls Education.
Whatever Boris does next, I know his commitment to ensuring girls have access to education will be a mainstay. It is something he knows will have the greatest impact on the lives of some of the world’s poorest people, but also something that will make the world a safer place.
Just like his commitment to levelling up and equality of opportunity here in the UK — indeed many seem to overlook how he has really put social mobility at the heart of his Government — what he has done with girls’ education and the environment is standout.
Let us not forget it was under this Government that we had COP26 where climate change took centre stage in the midst of Covid.
His legacy is global, too. I have just come back from a trip to East Africa. There people see the role he played in seeking to help and protect the most vulnerable people, namely, girls, while also trying to help protect the planet itself.
So as Liz Truss becomes our new Prime Minister and tucks into the massive in-tray that waits for her, I hope she carries on and strengthens Boris’s work on not just girls’ education and the environment. I know the UK is grappling with Putin’s invasion, and consequential energy price spikes and inflation. In a few weeks world leaders including our new Prime Minister will be meeting in New York at the UN General Assembly where Liz will take her first steps on the world stage and she can make her speech at the UN as our third female Prime Minister the foundation for her premiership.
I have worked with Liz and I know she cares about women and girls, but the reality is that issues facing those in need have been overshadowed by Conservative infighting and the lengthy leadership contest. But now we have a new PM it is time to get serious, and resume our role as champions of freedoms and democracy that so many in the world need.
I have said before that it is the foundation of our foreign policy, but the global Britain agenda coulddeliver a better world for us all. With new leadership and the work already done by Boris now is the time to get to work and create the future we — and much of the world — have all been waiting for.
In other news...
We need more people like Meghan Markle in politics
Meghan Markle is back in the UK and last night she spoke at the opening ceremony of the One Young World summit, an organisation she has been working with since 2014.
Many forget that before Meghan married into the royal family she was an actress and a young black, female activist or, as she said last night of her nervousness at speaking at the 2014 summit, “I was the girl from Suits, and I was surrounded by world leaders, humanitarians, prime ministers”.
Say what you want about Meghan and her podcast, Netflix deals, but I think the true her is on stage when she is talking to those who want to be the change they want to see in the world. Maybe the reason she does not want to be in the royal family is because she wants to earn her title. I could imagine her as President because god knows we need more people like her in politics. Smart, focused and engaging.
Welcome back Meghan and thank you for lighting up the eyes of so many young people.
