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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
26th April 2014
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Royal couple and baby George wow Australia
The visit to Australia by Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge has been an outstanding success. It has clearly been a very special experience for the young Royal couple themselves and for the tens of thousands of Australians who have turned out to see them, and the millions who have followed the […]
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25th April 2014 Washington DC, USA
From Washington to Beijing
One of the hardest things I have to do is explain my job. I work on Asia at the British Embassy in Washington DC, and “why?” is the most common question. And, particularly from Americans, “But the UK isn’t a Pacific nation, you haven’t got any skin in the game.” But the simple answer is […]
25th April 2014 Dublin, Ireland
European security under new scrutiny
I last commented publicly on the subject of European security at the Institute for Strategic Studies in Krakow in May 2013. A lot has happened since then. The crisis in Ukraine and Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea is of course the most significant development. I wrote recently about how Russia’s actions are completely indefensible and what […]
25th April 2014 Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei
Shakespeare’s 450th Birthday
23rd April is St George’s Day, the Patron Saint of England. Appropriately enough, it’s also the day one of England’s greatest ever figures – William Shakespeare – was born and died. 23rd April 2014 is particularly special as it marks the 450th anniversary of Shakespeare’s birth. It also marks the start of a two year […]
24th April 2014 Sana’a, Yemen
Friends of Yemen: Freedom From Fear
Barely a day goes by without there being a security incident of some form in Yemen: at its most prominent, we see terrorist attacks and assassinations. We see less of the daily insecurity or food insecurity or violence against women that happens in many countries, including Yemen. Security is a basic human right. Security can […]
24th April 2014 Budapest, Hungary
"All the world’s a stage…"
Guest blog by Simon Ingram-Hill, Director of the British Council in Hungary. Yesterday we celebrated St George’s day in the UK. To celebrate, I was invited to a small Byzantine church surrounded by olive groves by my Greek friend Georgios – and afterwards to eat sweets and almonds. On April 23rd we celebrate St […]
24th April 2014
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
The Vatican: A global hub
It has been a busy few days at the Vatican. Easter week, with its public ceremonies and celebrations, is just behind us. This coming weekend will see the canonisation of two Popes, John XXIII and John Paul II. Pope Francis will preside, and the Pope Emeritus, Benedict XVI, could also be present. Along with many […]
24th April 2014
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
England’s History, Scotland’s Future
Yesterday at the Residence we marked St George’s Day, the feast day of England’s patron saint, and the week of the 450th anniversary of the birth of England’s and the world’s greatest dramatist and poet,William Shakespeare. A British architect, Rueben Thorpe, talked to us about the excavation of the Rose Theatre in London, one of the […]
24th April 2014 Sofia, Bulgaria
Between Two Cultures
by David Mossop David Mossop first came to Bulgaria in the distant 1987 to work as a teacher at British Council Bulgaria. He had previously studied Russian and wanted to learn one more Slavic language. Little did he know then that his entire life was to become ineluctably connected with Bulgaria, its language and culture. […]
24th April 2014 Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei
Baroness Warsi visits Brunei
Baroness Warsi has just completed a two day visit. She is Senior Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Her visit to Brunei was part of a regional tour which also included Malaysia (Sabah and Kuala Lumpur) and Singapore. The Minister had a very full programme, including an Audience with His Majesty The […]