Jonathan Knott
Former British ambassador to Hungary, Budapest
Read biography
24th June 2013
Budapest, Hungary
I’ve long been a supporter of British lifesavers. Ever since I briefly was a lifesaver myself as a student holiday job. And recently I’ve become a trustee of the Lifeboat Fund in the UK. So I’ve been looking for a chance to pick up that cause now that I’m here in Hungary. I’m very pleased to say […]
Read more on Swimming for the life savers | Reply
17th June 2013
Budapest, Hungary
I really enjoy celebrating the Queen’s Birthday. It’s our national day and we get to invite all our best contacts and friends to come to the residence to celebrate the day with us. This year was the first time I’ve been able to decide how we can best celebrate the day. And so we decided […]
Read more on Britain has indeed got talent | Reply (4)
14th June 2013
Budapest, Hungary
Guest blog by Foreign Policy, Justice and Home Affairs and Human Rights Attaché Levente Nyitrai On Sunday, 9 June I took part in the 20th K&H Budapest Marathon Relay. But it was about so much more than just some fun exercise. Let me run through the details. At the end of April I received an […]
Read more on Run for transparency | Reply
8th May 2013
Budapest, Hungary
I attended a gala dinner to launch the 14th Plenary Assembly of the World Jewish Congress on Sunday night. The leading figures of the Jewish communities of the world were there. And so were senior figures from the Hungarian Government, including PM Orbán, and leaders of opposition parties. I sat at a table with representatives […]
Read more on Saying ‘no’ to hatred | Reply
18th March 2013
Budapest, Hungary
I’m a big sports fan. So when the CEO of a British company asked if I’d like to go to a football match in which the Hungarian team they sponsor was playing in I said yes straight away. I’ve been in Hungary a year now and I hadn’t been to a game – and this […]
Read more on A passionate affair | Reply (7)
7th March 2013
Budapest, Hungary
It’s been a long time since I last posted a blog. Not because I’ve got lazy! But because I’ve been travelling so much lately. I’ve been away for large parts of three of the last four weeks. Each time for really good events, and each of which events were about the Central Europe region rather […]
Read more on Commercial diplomacy in action | Reply (1)
25th January 2013
Budapest, Hungary
As you may have seen, on Wednesday morning the British Prime Minister David Cameron delivered a speech in London entitled: ‘The Future of the EU and the UK’s role within it’. In the speech he set out his views as Head of Government of a flexible, adaptable and open European Union. As Conservative Party leader […]
Read more on The future of the EU and the UK’s role in it | Reply (2)
17th January 2013
Budapest, Hungary
I went to the circus for the first time in ages this weekend – taking my family with me. We had great fun. The acts were good and there were no scary clowns! And the place was absolutely full so the atmosphere was excellent. Quite apart from the content of the show, what made a […]
Read more on A night at the circus | Reply
21st December 2012
Budapest, Hungary
I helped offer a Christmas lunch to the least well-off in Budapest today. It was the best thing I’ve done since I arrived here. The Hungarian Interchurch Aid organisation ran the event, with support from local companies, and I went down with a small group from the Embassy to do what we could to contribute. […]
Read more on The best thing I’ve done in Budapest | Reply
10th December 2012
Budapest, Hungary
Guest blog by Foreign Policy, Justice and Home Affairs and Human Rights Attaché Levente Nyitrai As a young kid I used to not understand that saying. Every Christmas I was eagerly waiting for the chance to attack the nicely wrapped presents under the tree. The moments on Christmas Eve when we entered the until then […]
Read more on It’s better to give than to receive | Reply