Soft power sell-off: anger as British Council announces sale of historic Madrid building
Summary
The British Council plans to sell its historic building in Madrid, which has served as a key center for English teaching and cultural exchange for about 70 years. This decision is part of broader cuts to pay off a large debt and has caused protests and job concerns among staff in Spain and other European countries.Key Facts
- The British Council’s Madrid building has operated for about 70 years and hosts around 5,000 students annually.
- The sale of this building, and potentially another in Barcelona, has led to protests from staff worried about job security.
- The British Council is facing a £197 million debt from a government emergency loan taken during the Covid pandemic, which must be repaid by September.
- Staff in Italy have struck and protested plans to end English teaching after 80 years, risking the loss of 108 jobs.
- Over half of the British Council’s staff in Spain signed a letter expressing no confidence in senior leadership and criticizing the organization’s management and communication.
- Similar no-confidence letters have also come from staff in Italy and France, with concerns about potential future cuts in other European countries.
- Union representatives criticized centralized decision-making by London-based management, saying it ignores local knowledge.
- Staff urge the UK government to support the British Council, emphasizing its global cultural importance, similar to the BBC World Service.
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