Soft power sell-off: anger as British Council announces sale of historic Madrid building
The British Council has announced the sale of its historic Palacete building in Madrid, prompting protests from staff concerned about job security and the future of the organization. This decision is part of broader cuts aimed at addressing a significant debt incurred during the Covid-19 pandemic. Staff across Europe have expressed their dissatisfaction with leadership decisions and the impact on cultural and educational services.
- ▪The Palacete building has housed the British Council in Spain for about 70 years.
- ▪Staff protests have erupted over the sale and potential job losses, with 298 out of 560 staff in Spain signing a letter of no confidence in leadership.
- ▪The British Council is facing a £197m debt from a Covid-era loan, leading to drastic cuts and restructuring across Europe.
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| Original publisher | World news | The Guardian |
| Canonical URL | https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/may/22/soft-power-sell-off-anger-british-council-sale-historic-madrid-building |
| Publication time | Fri, 22 May 2026 16:25:46 GMT |
| Retrieval time | 2026-05-22T16:37:02.520Z |
| Last seen | 2026-05-22T16:40:34.655Z |
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People protest outside the British Council building in Madrid to stop the sale of the Palacete building. Photograph: Maeve Gorman/The Olive PressView image in fullscreenPeople protest outside the British Council building in Madrid to stop the sale of the Palacete building. Photograph: Maeve Gorman/The Olive PressForeign policySoft power sell-off: anger as British Council announces sale of historic Madrid buildingBacklash grows among European staff against radical cuts to pay off Covid-era debt, with some accusing council of ‘colonial attitude’Caroline DaviesFri 22 May 2026 12.25 EDTLast modified on Fri 22 May 2026 12.35 EDTSharePrefer the Guardian on GoogleThe historic Palacete building at 31 Paseo del General Martínez Campos in Madrid’s upmarket Chamberí district has been home to the…
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