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
2nd April 2014 Dublin, Ireland
Guest blog by Michał Cichowlas – Economic Officer from the British Embassy Warsaw, summing up "The Future of a Competitive EU" discussion in the Polish Parliament
On Friday 28 March members of the House of Commons and House of Lords, as well as representatives of the UK government, met some of their counterparts in Poland. During a conference organised jointly by the British Embassy and Polish parliament, they had a wide-ranging discussion about the economic and institutional reform necessary in the EU. From […]
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2nd April 2014
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Ukraine: Mysteries and Myths
Winston Churchill once described Russia as “a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma”. That quip probably reflected his frustration from dealing with Stalin 70 years ago. There are no mysteries about Russia’s bullying behaviour of Ukraine in recent weeks. But there are plenty of myths. For example, the Russians claim that their annexation […]
1st April 2014 London, UK
Nikesh Mehta- The Perks of Being a Diplomat
The perks of being a diplomat Nikesh Mehta (middle) whilst in Uganda by Imran Choudhury BUILDING relationships between different countries and diffusing tensions may sound like quite a demanding job, but it does have it perks – just ask British diplomat Nikesh Mehta. The 36-year-old has worked in Iraq, Uganda and Malaysia and mingled with […]
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1st April 2014 Budapest, Hungary
IV. Human Rights Movie Day
Guest blog by Marcell Lőrincz, Chairman of Subjective Values Foundation (Szubjektív Értékek Alapítvány) Every March since 2011 the British Embassy has been organizing a very important event called the “Human Rights Movie Day”. This time our NGO, the Subjective Values Foundation, was asked to help in the implementation – so we did our best. As we […]
1st April 2014 Athens, Greece
Another corner of a foreign field: Newbould and Manoliasa
Rupert Brooke’s grave on the Aegean island of Skyros is well known to many. I once walked there – it is a beautiful spot. Cared for by the Commonwealth Graves Commission, his gravestone is engraved with his famous poem ‘The Soldier’: If I should die, think only this of me; That there’s some corner of […]
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1st April 2014
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
National Dialogue
‘I have been asked a number of times what is the UK position is on National Dialogue. Broadly the answer is YES to a National Dialogue, but only one that is genuine, comprehensive and inclusive. My impression from my recent travels, talking to Sudanese from El Genina to Dongola, is that this is the view […]
1st April 2014 Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei
6th ASEAN Youth Forum and ASEAN People’s Forum
Our guest blogger today is Khairunnisa Ashari, who is the Head of International Relations, Brunei Youth Council. Recently, two other colleagues, Faizul H. Ibrahim and Rachel Lai were selected to attend the 6th ASEAN Youth Forum and ASEAN People’s Forum with her and this is what she has to say about their trips to Myanmar. […]
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1st April 2014
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
New Australian High Commissioner in London
The new Australian High Commissioner in London will be moving back into his teenage home when he takes up his position in May. Alexander Downer, whose appointment was announced yesterday, lived at the splendid official residence, Stoke Lodge near Hyde Park, when his father was High Commissioner in London from 1964-72. He went to school […]
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31st March 2014 Houston, USA
The UK harnessing science to “bounce back”
There is a certain buzzword that you hear a lot these days. It’s tossed around by business executives, city managers, weather forecasters, even the odd politician. You feel you should be doing it, but you’re not sure how, or even what it means—resilience. What is resilience? Resilience is the ability to “bounce back” quickly from […]
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31st March 2014 Washington DC, USA
Inherited Identities, New Futures
Diaspora – from Greek, “scattering, dispersion” Identity can be a complicated thing. What does it mean to be part of a diaspora? Do people always carry the old country with them or do they gradually leave it behind? You could read Zadie Smith or Jhumpa Lahiri for some answers. This isn’t a fictional question for me. Over […]