The diplomatic spat between London and Washington has taken an unexpected turn as Sarah B Rogers, the undersecretary of state for public diplomacy in the US State Department, sparked outrage with a provocative speech at a right-wing conference in London. The Alliance for Responsible Citizenship (ARC) event, which drew over 4,000 delegates from 85 countries, provided the stage for Rogers to launch a scathing critique of Britain's justice system and democratic values.
During her address, Rogers employed the term 'Da Yookay' – a pejorative slang used by some online far-right groups – to characterise Britain. She cited several anecdotal examples, including claims about individuals being remanded without bail for 'inflammatory tweets', and the alleged abolition of jury trials for 'speech crimes'. The undersecretary also referenced specific incidents, such as the death of Henry Nowak and a case involving a child in a zoo's crocodile pit, weaving them into a narrative about Britain's perceived societal failings.
A spokesperson for the UK government issued a statement on Friday, asserting that its "world-renowned justice system operates without fear or favour to protect all our citizens" and that it "completely rejects this characterisation". This direct rebuttal underscores the seriousness with which the UK government views what it perceives as misrepresentations of its legal framework and democratic values by a foreign official.
British politicians from across the spectrum have condemned Rogers's remarks. Max Wilkinson, the Liberal Democrats' home affairs spokesperson, described repeated attempts by Trump officials to undermine UK democracy as "out of hand" and suggested ministers should engage with their US counterparts. He remarked that "echoing bizarre online conspiracy theories about the UK is something we might expect from a hostile state rather than a Nato ally". Similarly, Labour MP Stella Creasy urged figures like Rogers to "spend less time reading Twitter conspiracy theories about the UK and more time fixing their own problems", referencing issues such as gun violence and child deportations in the US.
This incident follows earlier concerns raised by Labour leader Keir Starmer regarding potential US interference in British democracy, particularly after US Vice-President JD Vance attributed the murder of British teenager Henry Nowak to mass immigration. The ARC conference itself has emerged as an influential platform for shaping right-wing policies both domestically and internationally, with its advisory board including prominent figures such as Conservative peer Philippa Stroud and Reform MP Danny Kruger.
Rogers's intervention marks a notable instance of explicit criticism of the UK government by a US official while on British soil. Her role, created to foster positive relationships between the US and foreign publics, makes her remarks particularly striking given their tone and content.