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
11th July 2013
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
World Population Day
According to the latest statistics, the world population has passed the 7 billion mark. This fast accelerating number raises a number of important issues – and the United Nations has selected an interesting theme for this year from the potential list. The organisation wants to address the issue of adolescent pregnancy, which directly feeds the […]
10th July 2013 San Francisco, USA
Invisibility Cloaks: No Longer Exclusive to the Wizarding World
I know what you’re thinking – this is a blog for the Science and Innovation Network. What’s next, a post on fire-breathing dragons? But in fact, over the course of the past decade the concept of invisibility cloaks has turned from fiction to science. Much to the dismay of Harry Potter fans across the globe, however, […]
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10th July 2013
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Still pretty sunny in Western Australia
There has been much talk of the resources investment boom passing its peak. But in Perth things still feel pretty good. I called on Premier Colin Barnett, re-elected in a handsome victory since my last visit, and some of his ministers. I attended the Australian Gas Technology Conference and Expo and met a number of […]
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10th July 2013
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Justice and Home Affairs: Opting Out to Opt In
The Home Secretary made an announcement to Parliament on 9 July on the UK’s policy towards Justice and Home Affairs in the EU. There’s a lot of law and jargon involved, but I’ll try and keep it as simple as possible! The bottom line is the UK government remains committed to working with EU partners […]
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10th July 2013
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Charlotta Longstocking
When our daughters were small, they used to read stories about Pippi Longstocking. She was a nine-year old girl with ginger plaits. She was unconventional and assertive with no respect for authority. She also had superhuman strength, being able to lift her horse with one hand. Our daughters learnt that girls can achieve anything if they […]
9th July 2013 Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Diplomatic Excellence
Recently I travelled to London to attend the annual Foreign Office Leadership Conference, which brings together the heads of our diplomatic posts from around the world, and senior officials based in London. It’s a chance to discuss the big issues that are facing all of us, and to hear from Foreign Office ministers and ministers […]
9th July 2013 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
"From Colony to Corner-Stone Investor"
I’m delighted that Simon Featherstone, the British High Commissioner, has agreed to write a guest blog on Prime Minister Najib’s groundbreaking(!) visit to the UK. It’s not often that you get a behind-the-scenes look at an occasion of this magnitude so please enjoy and feel free to post your thoughts or comments below. The work […]
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8th July 2013 Washington DC, USA
UK-US Service Personnel Task Force: A Personal View of the Past Two Months
“The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive the Veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by the nation.” President George Washington, 1789. Judging by the amazing opportunities and activities of the last few months for […]
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8th July 2013 Lima, Peru
Global partnerships for global challenges
By Roger Gifford, Lord Mayor of the City of London, who will visit Peru on 10 July. – Article written for Peruvian newspaper “Gestión” I am looking forward to visiting Lima on 10 July because Peru is a country I hear being talked about increasingly often in the City of London. With good reason its […]
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8th July 2013 Toronto, Canada
Canadian science news: 1-7 July 2013
[View the story ” Canadian science news: 1-7 July 2013″ on Storify]