This could only happen in modern Britain.
The Foreign Office has decided to get rid of its stuffy image by using a female cartoon character that looks suspiciously like Foreign Secretary David Miliband.
The initiative rewards diplomats, which it treats as though they are kids, with stickers proclaiming 'You're a star!' and 'Congratulations!' when they have done well.
Glossy brochures, sent out with special glasses so diplomats can see 3D images, use buzzwords more familiar to children's comics than Foreign Office memos such as 'Wow!' and 'Hey!'
Some diplomats have condemned it as a waste of money.
Tory Foreign Affairs spokesman David Lidington said: "Ministers should treat their diplomats as grown-ups, not like school children."
This would never had happened during the reign of previous foreign secretaries such as Lord Palmerston (1846-1851) or Anthony Eden (during World War II).
So why did the Foreign Office put David Miliband in a skirt?
By Simon Walters
07th March 2009
Daily Mail
A plan to make British envoys work harder using a female cartoon character that looks bizarrely like David Miliband was condemned last night as 'an insult to diplomacy'.
The initiative rewards diplomats with stickers proclaiming 'You're a star!' and 'Congratulations!' when they have done well, and was approved by the Foreign Secretary to get better results from staff in the Foreign Office and British embassies around the world.
Glossy brochures, sent out with special glasses so diplomats can see 3D images, use buzzwords more familiar to children's comics than Foreign Office memos such as 'Wow!' and 'Hey!'
Lookalikes: The Foreign Office cartoon character and Foreign Secretary David Miliband, below
The Government says the scheme is a deliberate attempt to kill off the 'Sir Humphrey culture' in the Foreign Office.
But some seasoned diplomats condemn it as a 'gimmick' and a 'waste of money'.
One official who has had a number of FO postings said: 'It is an insult to serious diplomacy, something we have done rather well for centuries.
'When I joined the Foreign Office, it was a place for well educated grown-ups, not juveniles who act as though they are running a kindergarten. We want a proper Foreign Secretary, not a Miliboy Wonder.'
The most amusement has been caused by the cartoon character, whose wide-eyed, smiling face is strongly reminiscent of boyish Mr Miliband.
Above the unnamed character's head is a light bulb with the word 'ideas', and she holds a loud-hailer and a clipboard.
Tory Foreign Affairs spokesman David Lidington said: 'Ministers should treat their diplomats as grown-ups, not like school children.
'This insulting and juvenile exercise will make us a laughing stock with foreign governments.'
A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: 'This is the last nail in the coffin for the Sir Humphrey culture,' adding that the cartoon character had been designed before Mr Miliband became Foreign Secretary in 2007.
Some of the motivational stickers aimed at getting better results from staff in the Foreign Office
dailymail.co.uk
The Foreign Office has decided to get rid of its stuffy image by using a female cartoon character that looks suspiciously like Foreign Secretary David Miliband.
The initiative rewards diplomats, which it treats as though they are kids, with stickers proclaiming 'You're a star!' and 'Congratulations!' when they have done well.
Glossy brochures, sent out with special glasses so diplomats can see 3D images, use buzzwords more familiar to children's comics than Foreign Office memos such as 'Wow!' and 'Hey!'
Some diplomats have condemned it as a waste of money.
Tory Foreign Affairs spokesman David Lidington said: "Ministers should treat their diplomats as grown-ups, not like school children."
This would never had happened during the reign of previous foreign secretaries such as Lord Palmerston (1846-1851) or Anthony Eden (during World War II).
So why did the Foreign Office put David Miliband in a skirt?
By Simon Walters
07th March 2009
Daily Mail
A plan to make British envoys work harder using a female cartoon character that looks bizarrely like David Miliband was condemned last night as 'an insult to diplomacy'.
The initiative rewards diplomats with stickers proclaiming 'You're a star!' and 'Congratulations!' when they have done well, and was approved by the Foreign Secretary to get better results from staff in the Foreign Office and British embassies around the world.
Glossy brochures, sent out with special glasses so diplomats can see 3D images, use buzzwords more familiar to children's comics than Foreign Office memos such as 'Wow!' and 'Hey!'
Lookalikes: The Foreign Office cartoon character and Foreign Secretary David Miliband, below
The Government says the scheme is a deliberate attempt to kill off the 'Sir Humphrey culture' in the Foreign Office.
But some seasoned diplomats condemn it as a 'gimmick' and a 'waste of money'.
One official who has had a number of FO postings said: 'It is an insult to serious diplomacy, something we have done rather well for centuries.
'When I joined the Foreign Office, it was a place for well educated grown-ups, not juveniles who act as though they are running a kindergarten. We want a proper Foreign Secretary, not a Miliboy Wonder.'
The most amusement has been caused by the cartoon character, whose wide-eyed, smiling face is strongly reminiscent of boyish Mr Miliband.
Above the unnamed character's head is a light bulb with the word 'ideas', and she holds a loud-hailer and a clipboard.
Tory Foreign Affairs spokesman David Lidington said: 'Ministers should treat their diplomats as grown-ups, not like school children.
'This insulting and juvenile exercise will make us a laughing stock with foreign governments.'
A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: 'This is the last nail in the coffin for the Sir Humphrey culture,' adding that the cartoon character had been designed before Mr Miliband became Foreign Secretary in 2007.
Some of the motivational stickers aimed at getting better results from staff in the Foreign Office
dailymail.co.uk
