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
28th June 2013 USA
Chicago Blues: 5 Reasons I’ll Miss The Midwest
I’m about to leave Chicago after three fascinating and rewarding years as Consul General promoting the UK across 13 states of the US Midwest – an area bigger than western Europe and with an economy the size of Germany’s. People in Chicago often ask what a Consul General does. So here are five lasting impressions […]
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28th June 2013 Toronto, Canada
Science and the UK Spending Round 2013
On 26 June 2013, the Chancellor of the Exchequer presented the 2013 Spending Round to Parliament. The 2013 Spending Round sets out how the government will spend approximately £740 billion of taxpayers’ money in 2015-2016, and make further savings to improve the economy. What does this mean for science, research and international collaboration? Let’s take […]
28th June 2013 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
What Defines Our Relationship?
I am often asked what best defines the UK-Malaysia bilateral relationship? Is it the closeness of our business ties? Or could it be our shared history? Or is the strength of our education links? Foreign Office Minister Hugo Swire’s visit to Malaysia this week suggests it’s all of these areas and many more. In the […]
27th June 2013 Paris, France
British companies display innovative security technology in Paris
We are here in the Embassy today for a special event where we have representatives of the British security industry, presenting their products to French clients and looking to develop partnerships. This is a growing industry, which is producing products intended to help keep people safe, to help fight crime and terrorism, and it’s an […]
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26th June 2013
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Economía de las drogas ilícitas: Un peligro para la humanidad
Hoy 26 de junio es el Día Internacional de la lucha contra el uso indebido y el tráfico ilícito de drogas; para ello nuestra blogger invitada es nuestra Oficial en Seguridad y Justicia, Sara del Cid. El mundo está cada vez más globalizado, y al igual que muchos otros fenómenos sociales, la globalización ha acelerado […]
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26th June 2013
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Illicit Drug Economy: A Danger to Humanity
Today June 26th is the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking; our guest blogger is our Security and Justice Officer, Sara del Cid. The world is increasingly globalised, and as with many other social phenomena, globalisation has been accelerating the diffusion of the contemporary drug problem. While the increase in global trade has […]
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26th June 2013 London, UK
Twiplomacy – Peter Millett
Peter Millett on communicating effectively: “Could you tweet my blog please?” Did I really say that to one of my staff? What on earth is this new language I’m using? No-one knew of “tweeting” and “blogging” 20 years ago. More…
26th June 2013
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Freedom of religion or belief: a fundamental right
The European Union – as an institution, and as individual member states – is often criticised for not doing enough to protect and promote freedom of religion and belief around the world. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is very clear on the issue, we are often reminded. And yet, the critics say, amongst the […]
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26th June 2013 Dublin, Ireland
Escape from Warsaw: history, optimism and far too much cake!
I am just back from a long weekend working visit to Warminsko Mazurskie region in North Eastern Poland. It was a reminder that there is a lot more to Poland than cities like Warsaw. The region has a complex history. I visited the site of the Battle of Grunwald where Poles and Lithuanians defeated the […]
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26th June 2013 Bangalore, India
Ageing at ISEC
About 40 years ago, the famous Indian Social Scientist Prof. V K R V Rao said “I now want to utilise some of my time in building up a third institution in the field of social sciences, in addition to the two which I have helped to build, namely, the Delhi School of Economics and […]