I was in the room when David Lammy claimed UK would still be major world player

chose the Locarno Suite inside the grand corridors of the Foreign Office to make his first big speech of 2025.

The series of rooms, which act “as a memorial to a supposed diplomatic triumph promising an era of international cooperation”, were supposed to be the perfect backdrop for Labour to set out its vision for a more “progressive reality”.

But Mr Lammy only highlighted why there is so much concern about the diplomatic direction of the Labour Government.

Britain’s top diplomat warned that the post-Cold War era of peace is “over” and Europe’s future security “is on a knife edge”.

He added: “We have to accept that there is no going back, we must stop the 1990s clouding our vision.

“The post-Cold War peace is well and truly over.

“This is a changed strategic environment. The number of conflicts are higher than at any time since 1945, a spectre of famine from Gaza to Sudan and the most refugees and displaced people on record.”

The Foreign Secretary added that he is sometimes asked “when will things get back to normal,” and added: “My answer is that they will not.

“Europe’s future security is on a knife edge.”

Crucially, he told the audience: “We have to be taken seriously by opponents and allies alike.”

Labour’s policies on defence, migration and aid are all being heavily criticised.

First, on the state of the Armed Forces. As Britain’s adversaries build up their militaries and arm them with the latest weapons, Britain cannot even say when it will spend 2.5% of GDP on defence.

Yet Mr Lammy claimed “we will lead and we will change, to convince all of our NATO allies that rising defence spending is a strategic necessity”.

Governments across the World are unlikely to feel led when Labour is yet to set this crucial pathway.

And he said Western allies needed “re-learn the Cold War manual” and focus on “consistent deterrence, not constant distraction”.

But many critics will rightly argue it is impossible to provide “consistent deterrence” if there is not a clear path to 2.5%.

And on migration, many across the political spectrum are concerned Labour’s decision to scrap the Rwanda scheme will lead to more migrants crossing the Channel than ever before.

This is despite the trailed plan to sanction people smugglers.

This could see them have their bank accounts frozen and banned from travelling to the UK.

Throughout the speech, it felt like an outlining of Labour’s vision on the World stage.

Mr Lammy stressed bolstering economic growth was key to Labour’s mission. That is where Labour’s strategy meets the elephant in the room. China.

Sir ’s Government is increasingly resigned to having to forge closer ties with Beijing in pursuit of higher economic growth.

The Foreign Secretary spoke of bolstering growth and showing economic competence, but it will be hard to convince the Chinese of this when the bond market is in crisis.

Turmoil in the financial markets meant the cost of Government borrowing soared and stoked fears of massive spending cuts, but Ms Reeves rejected calls to cancel a trade trip to Beijing.

Negotiating in a position of perceived weakness is the complete opposite of the underlying message that Britain’s position will grow on the global stage.

As leading China hawk Sir Iain Duncan Smith puts it, “it’s a one way street”.

That feeling will only intensify as Labour seeks to convince the financial markets is a credible one – at the very time they are trying to build ties with President .

Mr Lammy tried to tread a fine line on President-elect .

In fact, he admitted: “We must put our money where our mouth is. That starts by facing facts. and J.D. Vance are simply right when they say that Europe needs to do more to defend its own continent.

“It is myopia to pretend otherwise, with on the march.”

The incoming Trump administration is showing every sign it is going to take a tougher stance on allies and demand more from them.

There are already issues over , a close aide of President Trump, defence spending and the return of British Islamic State members being held in Syria.

Given the clear differences in political stances, you would be given for thinking that will grow.

And Europe will no doubt be eyeing up a series of concessions to suck the UK back into the EU’s orbit, undermining many of the hard-won freedoms.

So, when so many countries are eyeing up an opportunity to get something from Britain, are we planning to show we can be “taken seriously” by simply giving more away?

Mr Lammy appears to have signalled that very thing.