17th July 2025
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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
8th April 2014 Mumbai, India
Interview with Clive Hickman – Chief Executive, The Manufacturing Technology Centre
On my recent visit to the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) in Coventry, I met with the Chief Executive, Dr. Clive Hickman, and asked him about his plans for engaging with India. Tell us about the recent award from the World Bank? The World Bank project is approximately $400m and will be used to upgrade the […]
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7th April 2014 Paris, France
Defence Cooperation and the Franco-British Council
We recently held here a conference on the issue of defence cooperation between Britain and France, organised by the Franco-British Council. This is a non-governmental organisation that has just celebrated 40 years of working to bring thinkers together between France and the UK; and they now have an annual conference on defence once in France […]
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7th April 2014 Budapest, Hungary
Gadgets, Drones, Opportunities
Guest blog by Dr. Péter Stauber, Hungarian Ministry of Interior’s Head of EU Cooperation Department, on his visit to the Security and Policing Conference in Farnborough, at the end of March 2014. It was an idea from the British Embassy, which generated support among the leadership of my organization, namely the Ministry of Interior […]
7th April 2014
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Security depends on Judges, not just Generals
Writing in the Sunday Telegraph recently William Hague argued that Ukraine’s future security depends crucially on dismantling the oligarchic state that characterised Yanukovych’s rule and taking resolute steps to tackle corruption. And he advocated more determined action in tackling corruption in the Balkans as well, to ensure strong, stable and democratic states in this part […]
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7th April 2014 Mumbai, India
The Manufacturing Technology Centre
Recently, I visited the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) spread across a 12,000 square metre facility in Ansty Park, Coventry. Established in 2010 to bridge the gap between academia and industry, and founded by the University of Birmingham, Loughborough University, University of Nottingham and TWI Ltd., the MTC is one of the seven centres, which make […]
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7th April 2014 Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei
A Visit to UBD’s Kuala Belalong Field Studies Centre
I recently had the chance to visit UBD’s Kuala Belalong Field Studies Centre (KBFSC). With me on this day long Saturday trip were colleagues from London and the High Commission, as well as James Margrove, an intern from the University of Aberdeen who recently guest blogged about his research work in Brunei. My main interest […]
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6th April 2014 Sofia, Bulgaria
Dobre Doshli!*
by Dr Annie Kay Dr Annie Kay has been a regular visitor to Bulgaria since 1974. Annie has deeper knowledge of Bulgarian history, nature and cultural traditions than many Bulgarians. She is Chairman of The British-Bulgarian Society, an organisation aiming to promote friendship, understanding and cultural relations between the people of Britain and Bulgaria. In […]
4th April 2014 USA
Come Together, Right Now, Over to Liverpool!
When I was growing up, I remember hearing stories about the mass pilgrimages that people made to Liverpool in the hopes of hearing the Beatles play live. Although Beatlemania has just celebrated its 50 year anniversary, (is there now One Direction mania?), Liverpool still attracts millions of tourists who want to experience the city’s multiple […]
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4th April 2014
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Clearing a Path for Development
Each year on 4 April we observe the United Nations’ International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance. This day aims to raise awareness of the threat caused by landmines to the safety, health and lives of civilian populations, and encourages Governments to develop mine clearance programmes. This global problem has an acute local dimension. Ethiopia is one […]
4th April 2014 London, UK
BoC Review: Making the EU Work for You
Yesterday I attended a launch event for the fourth set of calls for evidence on the balance of competences between the UK and the EU. The consultations, which will be open until the week commencing 30 June, cover a range of issues including Education, Enlargement, Information Rights and Economic and Monetary Policy. Together the first […]