1st October 2026
A Year Too Big for Two Suitcases: Notes From a Chevening Scholar
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Blogs
A unique insight into UK foreign and development policy
11th May 2026
The Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Bill: turning a global ocean agreement into UK law
9th April 2026
The Gulf, Berlin and the Commission on the Status of Women: building global alliances to advance women’s progress
10th October 2016 Vientiane, Laos
IS SMALL BEAUTIFUL?
In 1973, the Oxford-educated economist E F Schumacher published his seminal work, “Small is Beautiful”. It was an early critique of globalisation and a clarion call for sustainable development. Over the years, his iconic title has also stirred broader discussion about the comparative merits of smaller and larger organisations. Each has advantages, in my view. But […]
7th October 2016 Tripoli, Libya
Happy 1438!
The Islamic world celebrated the arrival of a New Year this week. It is now 1438. The New Year is not as big as the religious Eid holidays. Nor does it have the social significance of New Year events in other countries where cities compete with each other over the lavishness of their fireworks. In […]
7th October 2016 Vienna, Austria
Give peace a chance
I’m sitting around a table with numerous Ambassadors discussing nuclear security. But we’re not at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). We’re at the Vienna Center for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation (VCDNP). And instead of sitting in one of the huge semi-circular conference chambers of the Vienna International Centre, we’re on the thirteenth floor of the […]
7th October 2016 London, UK
Taking action on Climate Change
Climate change is the greatest threat facing our generation. We urgently need to take collective action to halt the increase in global temperature and limit the risks posed to our economy and national and global security. I am proud that the UK has led the global transition to a low carbon economy. We were the […]
6th October 2016
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
GOVERNOR’S FAREWELL MESSAGE – OPTIMISM, BUT A NEED TO SHARPEN THE PUBLIC SECTOR AND RETAIN AN OPEN ECONOMY
With grandchildren in Grand Turk After three happy years in the beautiful country of Turks and Caicos Islands, Jill and I will be leaving with great sadness next week, on 10 October – and with great relief that the islands were, unlike others in the region, untouched by Hurricane Matthew. It hardly seems possible that […]
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6th October 2016 Khartoum
First visit by UK special representative to Sudan
Imagine spending a year living beside Africa’s longest river (in El Mansoura, Egypt) and then not seeing those waters again for over thirty years. Imagine falling in love with the culture and people of the Sahel in Senegal and being deeply impressed with the diversity and tolerance of the Islamic tradition in Mali and then […]
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5th October 2016 Geneva, Switzerland
Climbing Up The Walls
The physical experience of going through a Council session feels rather like having your head banged against a wall. It’s nice when it stops, but otherwise not particularly enjoyable. So there was a sense of delirium in the air when we headed out of the doors at a reasonable time last Friday evening. Three weeks […]
5th October 2016 Mumbai, India
Personalised medicine and you!
What if you were prescribed treatment based on your genetic makeup, environment and lifestyle? This is already a reality and the practice is called precision medicine or personalised medicine. Essentially, this means your genes determine the treatment you receive. The treatment is, of course, based on the results of a slew of diagnostic tests which […]
5th October 2016 Bangalore, India
UK-India science and innovation is at the heart of ‘Unbeatable Combination’
UK and India’s research investments have grown enormously. In 2008, £1 million had been invested – today that figure stands at over £200 million. The continued excellence of the UK research base and innovation ecosystem makes us perfect partners. Our aim to build strong and systemic relationships is no better demonstrated by the Newton Fund. […]
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4th October 2016 London, UK
HMS Protector
“Just another day in the ice” is a phrase that cannot be used to describe life in HMS Protector. The ship’s company of the UK’s Ice Patrol Ship has the privilege and unique opportunity to work in one of the most stunning environments anywhere in the world. To wake up to see the ship surrounded […]