Alastair Campbell

And that sometimes means you have to pull your punches or bite your lip.

But ultimately, for example,

The White House position towards supporting Ukraine in their defense against Russia's brutal full-scale invasion is more important than our diplomatic... And we're not calling that out.

Well, we...

Hang on a second.

So the question is, what are you trying to achieve?

Are you trying to feel good or are you trying to get stuff done?

Because rowing with the White House, embarrassing the White House, would be deeply counterproductive.

Because we know what the president is like.

We need to bring him to where we think the US should be rather than stand on the touchlines and shout.

Is it changing the US position?

Yes or no?

Because if it isn't, then what's the point?

The point is to have values.

So, Alistair, when I was Foreign Secretary, there are a couple of things I really, really pushed hard on.

One thing I absolutely hated was the habitual use of the phrase deeply concerned because it relegates us to observer status, which is passing comment on world affairs.

And I said, we are not in the commentary box.

We are on the pitch.

We don't tell the world what we feel.

We tell the world what we are doing.