My successor as HM Ambassador in Warsaw is in the Daily Mail being asked about the FCO’s policy to ‘promote’ Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual And Transgender (LGBT) rights.

This question was put:

Asked whether he would raise the rainbow flag at the British embassies in Iran or Saudi Arabia, Mr Todd said: ‘I have made a judgment-about what I should do in Poland, and in my opinion this is the appropriate thing to do in this country.

‘I am not interfering in Polish politics or society nor am I criticising it. Foreign Office policy is clearly spelt out and I am acting in accordance with policy.

‘We have achieved a lot of good things around the world on the subject of LGBT rights.

‘None of this is any suggestion by me or the Foreign Office that the Polish policy on LGBT rights is wrong.

All Ambassadors should operate according to Policy. As in this case.

But I just wonder about two things.

First, would other countries which look favourably at LGBT causes go so far as to fly the ‘rainbow flag’ on their Embassies overseas? If not, why not? What in practice is the wisest way forward, all things considered (including local sensitivities, something diplomats are meant to be attuned to)? What is the symbolism of all this? What does the way you run a policy in public say about you?

And second, does not a policy like this end up becoming just a tad … selective, for reasons which are in fact rather cynical?