17th December 2025
MAKING LIFE SAFER, FOR EVERYONE
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Blogs
A unique insight into UK foreign and development policy
9th December 2025
Why We Need Data, Courage, and Community
2nd December 2025
In cybersecurity, there are no limits – only new voices ready to lead
2nd March 2021 London, UK
Mikhail Sergeevich Gorbachev: a view from the Foreign Office archives
Marking the 90th birthday of former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, Gill Bennett recalls how the late Tony Bishop, FCO Russian specialist, recorded Gorbachev’s first talks with Margaret Thatcher, when he acted as interpreter. ‘For heaven’s sake, try and find me a young Russian!’ This, according to Tony Bishop, the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) principal […]
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26th February 2021 Geneva, Switzerland
Next Steps on Responsible Behaviours in Outer Space
As I’ve mentioned a couple of times in my blog now, a big focus for us in the first part of 2021 is following up the UK-sponsored UN General Assembly resolution on reducing space threats through norms, rules and principles of responsible behaviours. I thought I’d use this post to give a flavour of what […]
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23rd February 2021 Vienna, Austria
Diplomatic lessons 5, 1995-98: make a difference
“September 1996, Beijing: second of three formal sessions of the Joint Liaison Group. There are 15 on each side of the long tables, with consecutive interpretation and note-takers on further tables behind us. We go through the agenda, rehearsing positions on each side, notching up here and there agreements that will be the evidence in […]
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22nd February 2021 Geneva, Switzerland
Moving On
One of the things I like the least in this job is having to say goodbye to so many good people. Just over three weeks ago I had to bid adieu to our long-serving team leader and unsung Council hero Matt Forman. It’s been a long three weeks since then, and I’ve been awake most […]
22nd February 2021
My LGBT History
Visibility is important. In my first month in Norway the evening news ran a profile piece on me in which I talked about my husband Xavier. A 16 year-old boy wrote to me and told me that seeing this had made him believe for the first time that his dreams were worth just as much […]
22nd February 2021 Tokyo, Japan
Farewell to the Foreign Office
I retire at the end of February, after 32 years in the Foreign Office, and 40 years in public service in total. Just another civil servant moving on from a job. But to me it feels a poignant moment. When I left university in 1980 I wasn’t seeking fame or fortune, which was perhaps just […]
22nd February 2021 Tokyo, Japan
Farewell to Japan
I leave Japan at the end of February on completion of my term as Ambassador. It was also my first posting as a young diplomat, so it’s rather an appropriate place to be ending my career in. I have been fascinated by Japan since 1983, when I visited on a study tour, after winning an […]
22nd February 2021 Tokyo, Japan
Sankyu (thank you) Japan: a farewell twitter campaign
As I prepared to leave Japan at the end of February, on completion of my assignment, I have been reflecting on my four years as Ambassador here, as well as the four years I spent here earlier in my career. I’ve been flicking through my photos. I decided to do 39 tweets highlighting things I […]
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8th February 2021 Belgrade, Serbia
Boycie and Baldrick Get a Shot in the Arm
In this strangest of years, international cooperation has taken on a different aspect. Border closures, quarantine and testing regimes have never before been part of my daily diplomatic vocabulary. Though as a well travelled diplomat vaccination has long played a small but important part in my professional life. The world faces a common challenge that […]
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5th February 2021 United Kingdom
Molly: My Apprenticeship during COVID-19
Why I chose to do an apprenticeship with the FCDO. In 2020 I published a blog as to why I chose to do an apprenticeship with the FCDO. I still stand by my words. Since then I have successfully completed my apprenticeship but not without its trials! How did COVID-19 impact on your apprenticeship and […]
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