17th July 2025
Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Blogs
A unique insight into UK foreign and development policy
15th July 2025
International Day of Women in Diplomacy: UK Special Envoy for Women and Girls visit to Geneva
1st May 2025
The UN Commission on the Status of Women: My first visit as UK Special Envoy for Women and Girls
12th September 2014 Paris, France
The Battle of the Marne
Today I represented the UK at the commemoration of the Battle of the Marne, which raged for 5 days from 5 September 1914 and was one of the turning points of WW1. From the start of the War in early August, the German Armies advanced relentlessly across Belgium and into France. The French forces, and […]
12th September 2014
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
The Pity of War
August is a holiday month in much of Europe. It’s a good time to take stock, read the books that have waited long on the shelf, and explore new places. The war that is still going on This August marked one hundred years of the start of the First World War, when the armies of […]
11th September 2014 Sofia, Bulgaria
One Holiday in Borovets That Changed Everything
by Simon Feek Simon Feek first visited Bulgaria in 1997; he came on a winter holiday with his girlfriend at the time. A few years later when looking for a good place to invest in real-estate, Bulgaria was the first destination to come to his mind. The rest is history (which by the way also includes the […]
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11th September 2014
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
The Church as a global player
The bishops in the US and health care reform. The leading role played by the Catholic Church in tackling corruption in the Philippines. Caritas Internationalis responding in a practical way to the rise in suicides amongst Indian farmers. Catholic radio and censorship in South Sudan. The response of the Eastern Church Patriarchs to ISIL. Using […]
11th September 2014
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Employment Minister Esther McVey in Melbourne for G20
G20 brought another minister to Australia this week. Esther McVey MP, Minister of State for Employment, is in Melbourne attending the G20 Employment Ministers Meeting. As an MP on Merseyside, which has had its share of employment challenges, she is passionate about helping to give people the opportunity to work. Immediately before the meeting she […]
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10th September 2014
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Global Joint Action Day on Climate Change
The UK has been working with Germany, France and the EU to make September 9 a Joint Action Day on Climate Change. At events around the world, we put across a common message: the time for action on climate change is now! In Thailand, the British Embassy, the German Embassy and the EU Delegation hosted […]
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10th September 2014 Mumbai, India
Central Manufacturing Technology Institute, Bengaluru
Last month, I visited the sprawling and leafy campus of the Central Manufacturing Technology Institute (CMTI), located on Tumkur road in Bengaluru, along with my colleague, Venkatesh (UKTI). The CMTI was established in 1965 with support from the then Czechoslovakian government. The institute falls under the ambit of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, and […]
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9th September 2014 Brasilia, Brazil
Climate Diplomacy Day – Guest post by Sir David King
September is turning into a busy month in the international climate change calendar this year. On 23 September, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon will gather world leaders in New York at a climate summit to showcase action on climate change worldwide, and demonstrate international commitment to a global climate deal in 2015. Next week, the […]
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8th September 2014 Geneva, Switzerland
September Strawberries
This year has been the summer that never was. Usually by the time the September Council session comes around, colleagues look relaxed, healthy even, after enjoying the Geneva sunshine and seem genuinely happy to see each other after a decent break. But a combination of bad weather and incessant work has left many of us […]
7th September 2014
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Foreign Office Minister Hugo Swire in Canberra and Melbourne
When I was a kid our local MP in the beautiful constituency of East Devon was a remote figure, very distant from our lives. Last week his successor stayed at my Residence in Canberra. Hugo Swire, the FCO Minister of State whose responsibilities include Asia, was here for a very busy couple of days. In […]
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