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
17th April 2013 London, UK
Common Law
Do you know what QC stands for? And why Queen Elizabeth I coined the term? My sister-in-law, Poonam Melwani QC, came to Brunei last week on holiday. Like many successful women, she seems able to switch like lightning between a host of different roles. She appeared first as a rainforest explorer. At the Ulu Ulu […]
16th April 2013 Chicago, USA
The Leading Lights of Midwest Cleantech
Life-changing technologies like the automobile, personal computer, and even electric lighting all once faced the same challenges of public perception now faced by clean technology. Following their inception, these were written off as “novelties”, or “luxuries for the wealthy”, before they went on to take the world by storm. Cleantech is now at this tipping […]
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16th April 2013
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
2012 Annual Human Rights Report launch
Yesterday the Foreign Secretary, William Hague, officially launched the 2012 Foreign & Commonwealth Report on Human Rights. You can read it here: http://www.hrdreport.fco.gov.uk/. The report once again highlights the British Government’s determination to strengthen the development of human rights around the world, working through the global network of British Embassies and Consulates. This includes our […]
16th April 2013
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Student Visas
We’re approaching the start of the student visa season. This is the time of year when students who plan to study abroad are waiting for offers of places from universities. The students – and their parents – are also thinking of all the arrangements they need to make once they get the acceptance from the […]
16th April 2013 Bucharest, Romania
Shared experience on human rights between Romania and the UK
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office launched yesterday the 2012 Annual Human Rights and Democracy Report, which details our efforts to promote human rights during 2012. I’ve invited Iulian to tell us more about the rights of the disabled and the joint work that could be done between Romania and the UK on this issue: My name […]
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16th April 2013
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Voting for a Greener Future
Today, an important vote is taking place in the European Parliament. The British Government has asked all British MEPs to vote for a more competitive EU by supporting a higher price on carbon emissions. A well-functioning market, where it is more expensive to produce carbon emissions is crucial for green growth, and for the UK, […]
16th April 2013 Warsaw, Poland
Going for Growth 2020 – Trade and Investment the Way Forward
Last week I had the opportunity to be in the UK with HMA Robin Barnett. A busy visit and one which took me to London, then North through Shrewsbury to Liverpool. Whilst in London we had the opportunity to attend the Council of British Chambers of Commerce Annual Conference and Awards Gala which to celebrate […]
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15th April 2013 New York, USA
3,000 miles for the perfect tea set!
On a trip to the UK during the first ten days of February, I had the pleasure of visiting the annual Spring Fair in Birmingham, the UK’s largest gift trade show. There I attended a “Meet the Buyer” event hosted by UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) and the British Jewellery and Giftware Federation, which brought […]
15th April 2013 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Lady Thatcher dan Tun Mahathir: Pemimpin Gemilang
This post is also available in English Pada Rabu lepas, saya berpeluang untuk bertemu dengan mantan Perdana Menteri Malaysia keempat, iaitu Y.Bhg Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad sewaktu lawatan beliau ke kediaman Pesuruh Jaya Tinggi British di Kuala Lumpur. Antara lain, lawatan itu adalah bagi beliau menyampaikan pesanan takziah ke atas pemergian mantan Perdana Menteri Wanita […]
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15th April 2013
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Country matters
Standing in his moleskins in a grove of gum trees in rural Victoria, British Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Owen Paterson looked every inch the countryman. Me, in my dark suit, not so much. He was here with scientific and policy officials to look at several aspects of Australian agriculture. The […]