11th May 2026
The Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Bill: turning a global ocean agreement into UK law
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Blogs
A unique insight into UK foreign and development policy
9th April 2026
The Gulf, Berlin and the Commission on the Status of Women: building global alliances to advance women’s progress
26th February 2026
Different Memories, Shared Futures: Why Inclusive Remembrance Matters for Serbia and the Region
4th October 2019 Geneva, Switzerland
Disarmament blog: nuclear transparency in action
The three principles of disarmament are usually held to be verifiability, irreversibility and transparency. Transparency underpins the other two principles. You can’t tell whether what’s been done is irreversible unless you can verify it; you can’t verify it unless it’s transparent. As such, transparency, often in the shape of reporting by States Parties, is a […]
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4th October 2019 Tokyo, Japan
Japan welcomes the Rugby World Cup
Well, the Rugby World Cup is underway at last. With four teams to support: England, Scotland, Wales and – together with the Irish Embassy – the all of Ireland team; and 50,000 British fans here, it’s a really busy time for the whole embassy. And following Japan’s historic victory over Ireland, the whole country is […]
3rd October 2019 Skopje, North Macedonia
The hometown of Kocho Racin, a place of poetry, culture, history and tradition – my first visit to Veles
Last week, I travelled only a short distance from Skopje to visit Veles. It was a packed day as there was a lot to discuss and a lot of people to see and meet. Although Veles has a rich cultural history, our conversations were focussed on its future. Mayor Ace Kocevski talked about his plans […]
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3rd October 2019 Vienna, Austria
Brexit outreach events in Austria
You may have seen on social media in recent weeks that the embassy is organising another round of Brexit events around Austria. Previous events (we have done 17 so far) have been an important opportunity for us to share information with British nationals in Austria and to hear about your experiences. This next round of […]
24th September 2019 Vienna, Austria
A Tam O’Shanter in Vienna
The headgear is a subtle grey with a bright blue bobble. It sits aslant the head, keeping you warm and dry. I was delighted recently to attend the HQ of the London Scottish Regiment in Westminster to be awarded with a “Hodden Grey Tam O’Shanter”. How did this happen? The story begins with my decision […]
23rd September 2019 London,UK
Pleased as Punch
We missed Special Guest Star Bobby Davro, who had opened the Hotham Park Country Fair in Bognor Regis, but watching the Punch and Judy show at the fair felt like a rite of passage for our five-year old son, George, in the company of his parents and great aunt and uncle. The show was put […]
23rd September 2019 Geneva, Switzerland
Badly Opened Boxes
There are different ways to open boxes of breakfast cereal. When my wife does it, the box looks like it’s been magically opened by a graceful spell – the packaging remains in pristine condition and the re-sealable cardboard tag slides effortlessly into its allotted place. Whenever I do it, it looks like a pack of […]
20th September 2019 Beirut, Lebanon
12 months in Lebanon: ‘It can sometimes be hard to stay optimistic … but here’s why I do’
This time last year was one of the highlights of my career – presenting Queen Elizabeth’s letter to President Aoun that nominated me as Ambassador. The anniversary has allowed reflection on the year: for Lebanon, and for the UK. My first 12 months in Lebanon has been remarkable. Rolls Royce and MEA signed our largest […]
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17th September 2019 Vienna, Austria
Outstanding British food and drink in Vienna
‘You should try this English sparkling wine.’ ‘Really? Is it any good?’ ‘Try some. Make your own mind up.’ ‘OK.’ (Long pause.) ‘Wow. Can I have a couple more glasses?’ Our annual Queen’s Birthday Party at the residence in Vienna is not only one of the city’s hottest tickets (apologies, again, to all those we […]
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16th September 2019 Geneva, Switzerland
Disarmament blog: the Conference on Disarmament in 2019
The Conference on Disarmament (CD) adopted its Annual Report to the UN General Assembly last week. Thanks to the skilful work of the sixth and final President for the year, Zimbabwean Ambassador Taonga Mushayavanhu, this was a quicker and much less fractious process than many of us were expecting. With that, a week ahead of […]
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