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
3rd July 2014
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
We’re looking for the most creative entrepreneurs in Turkey
This blog is about a competition for Turkish entrepreneurs with fantastic prizes of five fully-paid trips to London’s Tech City and more. Turkey and the UK are full of exciting, innovative companies. We in the UK believe passionately that the exchange of ideas and trade creates stability, prosperity and well-being. That’s why we strive to […]
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2nd July 2014 New Delhi, India
Science is child’s play at IUCAA
Recently, I visited the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA) in Pune, with my colleague Vishakha Chandhere who is based in Pune. As a Bangalorean, I was struck by how similar Pune and Bangalore felt – both cantonment towns with a significant military presence, relatively cooler than their surrounds, lots of trees and a […]
1st July 2014 Geneva, Switzerland
Zeitgeist and Poltergeists
It’s been a difficult month. Like many other Council goers I’ve been trying to find enough time for the essential trinity of work, family and football. This is a struggle at the best of times but I feel that however many late-night shifts I’ve put in trying to make time for my council workload, my […]
1st July 2014 Windhoek, Namibia
Cycling the road to Glasgow and beyond
The following is a guest blog by Richard Shepherd, Cycling Coach from British Cycling. From the 16th to the 26th of June I visited Namibia in my role as an expert in Cycle Coaching and Development. My experience comes from working as a Coach and Coach Educator for British Cycling and the world governing body […]
1st July 2014
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
War and Remembrance
28 June marked the centenary of the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand – the event that set in train the outbreak of the First World War. Of course the causes of the war were much more complicated than one violent act. Last week we hosted an event at the Residence where British historian Andrew Oldfield […]
30th June 2014 London, UK
London Pride has been handed down to us; London Pride is a flower that’s free.
What do human rights and democracy have to do with each other (besides both featuring in the name of my department, HRDD)? And how does the work we do on democracy – which can seem nebulous – fit together with human rights work, which is easier to pigeonhole? Or with my favourite Noel Coward song […]
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30th June 2014
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Europe: After the Vote
Much ink has already been spilled (or many keys have already been tapped) in analysing the European Council’s decision to nominate Jean-Claude Juncker to head the European Commission. My government has been clear that the decision was wrong in principle, as a matter as process and as an issue of policy. For that reason the […]
27th June 2014 Houston, USA
Fútbol brings the UK and Hispanic America closer
I will start off by saying that I am obsessed with the World Cup. OBSESSED. Every four years, nothing matters more than making sure I am able to watch important World Cup matches. I grew up watching the tournament back when most Americans had no clue that it existed. My family emigrated from Mexico to […]
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27th June 2014
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Should Diplomats study Religion?
Earlier this week I was in London to address an in-house training programme of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) on religion and foreign policy. The course is aimed at British diplomats, but also public servants from other government ministries; there were a number of participants this week from the Ministry of Defence, and on […]
26th June 2014 Havana, Cuba
A Diplomatic Dilemma. Who do we support now?
The tragic, early departure of the England team from the World Cup in Brazil leaves many British Ambassadors around the world with a tricky diplomatic dilemma. Who do they support now the England team has been knocked out? For those Ambassadors in countries where the home team has qualified for the last 16, the answer […]
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