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
7th September 2015 Geneva, Switzerland
The Tragedy and Reality of Europe’s Refugee and Migration Crisis
Who could fail to be moved by the photograph last week of the little Syrian boy on a Turkish beach? We have long grown numb to the statistics of the Syrian conflict yet here was a picture that captured with blinding clarity the human tragedy. Hundreds of little Aylans have drowned in the Mediterranean far […]
Read more on The Tragedy and Reality of Europe’s Refugee and Migration Crisis | Reply
5th September 2015 London, UK
#FreeEstonKohver
This is the hashtag that thousands of people in Estonia and around Europe have been adding to their social media postings in the last few months. I’m glad to add it to my blog too. Who is Eston Kohver? He’s an Estonian security services officer, who was abducted from Estonia on 5 September last year, […]
4th September 2015
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
THE 74th ANNIVERSARY OF THE FIRST OF THE ARCTIC CONVOYS
My latest regional visit took me to the historical city of Arkhangelsk, which lies on the banks of the Northern Dvina River in north west Russia. Arkhangelsk is a fascinating city which is full of rich British/Russian history and indeed is where the British/Russian relationship began following the arrival of the explorer and navigator Richard […]
Read more on THE 74th ANNIVERSARY OF THE FIRST OF THE ARCTIC CONVOYS | Reply (9)
4th September 2015 Yerevan, Armenia
Leaving Armenia with optimism
On Saturday 5 September I leave Yerevan for the last time. I’ll be transforming back into a normal person after 3+ years of being driven around (thanks Edik and Aram) with a Union Jack on the car bonnet. It’s been a privilege to represent Her Majesty’s Government in this young/old nation; to meet such a […]
3rd September 2015
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Agents of Change
I was recently asked to speak at an event about the future of Bosnia and Herzegovina. I was the only speaker. I was happy to be there, but to be honest I thought it was a bit odd. I’m a foreign diplomat who has lived here for a year. Why should I be better qualified […]
2nd September 2015 London, UK
The United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates: strategic partners for generations to come
Yesterday I returned to the UAE. The Middle Eastern destination I have frequented the most since becoming a Member of the UK’s Parliament. I am delighted to be back and witness yet again the generosity of the Emirati culture and the common ties which bind us; from regional security matters to growing commercial ties covering […]
Read more on The United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates: strategic partners for generations to come | Reply
2nd September 2015 Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei
Brunei’s latest Chevening Scholar
I was pleased to host a farewell reception on Tuesday for our latest Chevening scholar, Senior Superintendent Dinah Amat Daud. Dinah will be starting her studies in the UK later this month – MA in Applied Security Strategy at the Institute of Security and Strategy at the University of Exeter. She was clearly delighted to […]
1st September 2015
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Preferential option for the poor: Government and Church together
There is plenty of bad news about. But let’s also celebrate the success stories. One such has been the partnership between the UK’s principal Catholic charities from the Caritas Internationalis family and the British government in their joint efforts to maximise funds raised by British donors to support projects benefiting some of the world’s poorest people. […]
Read more on Preferential option for the poor: Government and Church together | Reply (1)
1st September 2015
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Gallipoli, Greenwich and Istanbul
Two hundred Scouts gather on a parade ground for a flag ceremony, surrounded by trees. As the morning sun raises the temperature into the humid mid-30’s, the flags of Turkey, the UK, Egypt, Serbia and other countries are raised into the Istanbul skies. I was delighted recently to visit Istanbul’s largest Scouting centre at […]
1st September 2015 Colombo, Sri Lanka
Welcoming Sri Lanka to the Cybercrime Convention
This blog celebrates the fact that today, on Tuesday 1 September, Sri Lanka became a fully fledged member of the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime. Sri Lanka is the first country in South Asia, and only the second in Asia after Japan, to join this Convention. Cybercrime is any kind of crime committed with a computer […]
Read more on Welcoming Sri Lanka to the Cybercrime Convention | Reply