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
5th August 2014
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Australia remembers start of the Great War
Alongside Ambassadors and High Commissioners from many countries, representing both sides of the conflict, I took part yesterday in a moving ceremony to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the start of WW1, at Canberra’s Australian War Memorial. Meanwhile in Glasgow, Governor General Sir Peter Cosgrove, one of Australia’s most distinguished former soldiers, represented Australia at the Commonwealth […]
Read more on Australia remembers start of the Great War | Reply
4th August 2014 Budapest, Hungary
"Innovation is GREAT: Regional Automotive and Aerospace Workshop" – Exploring the business potential in Central and Eastern Europe
One of my main professional targets as the Business Champion of Emerging Europe is to help increase the flow of trade between the UK and Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). Our economists reckon that there’s a potential of 20 billion Euros of business to be done if we could just get Central and Eastern European businessmen […]
Read more on "Innovation is GREAT: Regional Automotive and Aerospace Workshop" – Exploring the business potential in Central and Eastern Europe | Reply
4th August 2014 Yerevan, Armenia
We have found an extraordinarily successful way to live together
The lamps are going out all over Europe. We shall not see them lit again in our lifetime’ – Sir Edward Grey, British Foreign Secretary, 3 August 1914 Just a few days ago, I stood in the study of Austro-Hungarian Emperor Franz Josef, in his summer villa in Bad Ischl, Austria, looking at the very […]
Read more on We have found an extraordinarily successful way to live together | Reply
4th August 2014
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
“The Great War – Lest we Forget”
On 3 August 1914, Europe saw the start of the worst human disaster experienced up to that time when the German Empire declared war on France. The subsequent World War (#WW1) cost the lives of at least fourteen million people and shattered the fabric of society. The war set in motion a chain of events […]
4th August 2014 Islamabad, Pakistan
WW1 Centenary – Pakistan’s Right to Commemorate
This is my first blog for the High Commission and a quick look at the archives tells me that it’s the first time in a long time that a member of the Defence Team has rolled up his sleeves and ‘put fingers to keyboard’. So when Alison Blake, our Deputy High Commissioner, asked me to […]
Read more on WW1 Centenary – Pakistan’s Right to Commemorate | Reply (6)
4th August 2014
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Commonwealth Games: well done Glasgow, over to Gold Coast
So, a very successful Commonwealth Games draws to a close in Glasgow. The city showed itself off to great effect, helped by some wonderful weather. The organisers and volunteers can take great pride in the welcome they provided. Scottish and English athletes shared triumphs together as part of Team GB at London 2012. Here they […]
Read more on Commonwealth Games: well done Glasgow, over to Gold Coast | Reply
3rd August 2014 Sofia, Bulgaria
100 Years of History in Pictures
by British Embassy Sofia The British Ambassador’s Residence in Sofia throughout the years. The FCO Historians have kindly provided us with the majority of the below images.
1st August 2014 Chevening, UK
Apply now for a 2015/2016 Chevening Scholarship
One of the many things that continues to impress me about Armenia is the Armenians’ appetite for learning. Wherever I go I meet people from all walks of life whoare working tirelessly to improve their education or that of their children. That is why one of the more enjoyable aspects of my job is Chairing […]
Read more on Apply now for a 2015/2016 Chevening Scholarship | Reply
1st August 2014
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
National identities
In my first few months here, I asked Belarusian interlocutors about Belarusian national identity. I received a variety of replies, but the subject was of more interest to me than to them. That’s changed recently as events in Ukraine have stirred a debate on the issue. I am intrigued by national identity. I first came […]
31st July 2014
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
NSW Premier says economic ties with UK strong and growing
New South Wales Premier Mike Baird, almost exactly 100 days in office, addressed an Australian British Chamber of Commerce lunch in Sydney yesterday. He described the state’s trade and investment links with Britain as large and growing, something he is keen to continue. British companies are major investors in NSW; many of them were represented […]
Read more on NSW Premier says economic ties with UK strong and growing | Reply