British Council logo 'unBritish'

The British Council - the body charged with trumpeting British ideas and achievements around the world - was accused of an embarrassing lack of "Britishness" yesterday.

MPs on the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee were none too impressed when they saw the council's new logo: four pale blue dots on a white background intended to symbolise England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales.

The committee said: "We are concerned that the British Council may be ... underplaying its 'Britishness'."

A spokesman for the British Councilsaid: "Promoting Britain abroad is not about logos. It is about creating an experience of the UK's creativity for millions of people across the globe - something we have been doing very successfully."