28th September 2015 Skopje, North Macedonia
The UK Civil Service doesn’t have an official motto – but if it did, it would almost certainly be: “speak truth unto power”. It’s a maxim that’s in the blood of good civil servants, even if they know that it won’t make their lives any easier. The best politicians learn to cherish civil service advice […]
7th September 2015 Skopje, North Macedonia
If you ever you get the chance to speak to students at the Preparing Global Leaders Institute (PGLI) course, snap it up. Few weeks ago I was back in Struga, on the shores of Lake Ohrid in Macedonia’s sun-blessed south, to do just that. Actually, any opportunity to speak with a group of students is […]
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19th August 2015 Skopje, North Macedonia
20 years ago I saw an advert in a UK national newspaper which was headlined “Don’t apply to be a diplomat…” I was intrigued. Why would the Foreign and Commonwealth office be advertising for people not to apply for one of their jobs? The answer was fairly clear as I read on. It said don’t […]
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29th July 2015 Skopje, North Macedonia
Having in mind the recent political developments in the country, it has never been more important to deconstruct the meaning of the term Public interest. It seems that the term has various meanings, depending on who you ask, and whose interests are on the line. In general, public interest involves matters, or policies that affect […]
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23rd July 2015 Skopje, North Macedonia
For a small country, Macedonia has a lot to offer and from my recent trip to Skopje it was clear that Macedonia is a state with big aspirations. In the midst of a difficult period, both internally and regionally, Macedonia looks to have the agility and resolve that is needed in order to respond to […]
25th June 2015 Skopje, North Macedonia
I leave Macedonia today after a fascinating three years as Deputy Head of Mission at the British Embassy in Skopje. There have been many developments across the political and economic spectrum during that time. I have had the pleasure of working with a dynamic team within this Embassy, and developed our cooperation in the fields […]
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2nd June 2015 Skopje, North Macedonia
This is not a political slogan. It is the title of an exhibition that the UK Parliament is hosting in celebration of 800 years of Magna Carta. The exhibition commissioned nine artists to produce banners for the historic and beautiful Westminster Hall, celebrating key moments along our journey to modern democracy. If you are not able to visit it in person, you can see the exhibition […]
30th March 2015 Skopje, North Macedonia
As a Briton and the British Ambassador in Skopje, I take great pride in the culture and achievements of each of the four nations that make up the United Kingdom. I enjoy marking each of the national days. As a seven-eighths Englishman, however, England is closest to my heart. As we enter April, the month we […]
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17th March 2015 Skopje, North Macedonia
What’s the reason to mention the ‘Game of Thrones’ in a blog reflecting on Northern Ireland on St Patrick’s Day? Simple and glorious: this American fantasy drama television series is filmed in a Belfast studio and on location elsewhere in Northern Ireland, Malta, Scotland, Croatia, Iceland, the United States, Spain and Morocco. If you have […]
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5th March 2015 Skopje, North Macedonia
Emerging from the movement for equal rights, shorter working hours, better pay and voting rights for women, International Women’s Day (IWD) has been observed since the early 1900s. On 8th of March, thousands of events are held throughout the world to empower women, celebrate the progress and remind of the remaining gender inequalities. In Skopje, […]
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