9th December 2025
Why We Need Data, Courage, and Community
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Blogs
A unique insight into UK foreign and development policy
2nd December 2025
In cybersecurity, there are no limits – only new voices ready to lead
14th October 2025
Lost and Found (but mostly lost)
2nd July 2012
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Joining a running club; gay rights and Elton John; and goodbye to Kyiv
I arrived in Kyiv on 14 June 2008 in a rainstorm and saw Paul McCartney perform in Independence Square. I leave today having seen Elton John and Queen on 30 June in Independence Square; and Kyiv throbbing to the excitement of a classic European Championship final between Spain and Italy on 1 July. I’d like […]
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2nd July 2012
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Freedom of Religion: what we are doing to protect it
In the joint communiqué signed between the British Government and the Holy See in February this year, both sides committed to “working together to combat intolerance and discrimination based on religion, wherever it is manifest”. This was a significant promise. What does it mean in practice? In essence, it means working together multilaterally and internationally […]
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1st July 2012 Harare, Zimbabwe
Digging Deep
In the run up to the Tokyo Conference on Afghanistan I have invited members of the PRT to use my blog to talk about their work. The first has been written by Mary Thida-Lun from the PRT’s Socio-Economic Development Team. 51…52…53…54…55…56…57…58…59… Why do those last 10 seconds on the treadmill always stretch out for an eternity? […]
29th June 2012 New York, USA
The Dapper Gentleman Reworked
The gentlemen of London have long had a well-respected signature style. Tailored suits, crisp lines, and classic accessories are staples of their wardrobes. But London is also known for the avant-garde, like the 60s mod and rocker looks of the past, influenced heavily by pop culture. And while you can visit London, like any good […]
29th June 2012 Washington DC, USA
Might as well face it, I’m addicted to Apps
Sometimes you don’t know you have an addiction until the thing you’re addicted to is suddenly snatched from you. This is what happened to me on moving to the US seven months ago, and finding myself embroiled in a lengthy procedure to get an American smartphone contract. My realisation happened insidiously. Getting ridiculously lost somewhere […]
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29th June 2012
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
"Hopes of Ethiopia"
Last night we held the world premiere of a short film commissoned by the British Embassy, Addis Ababa, called “Hopes of Ethiopia” – which features 3 young Ethiopian athletes as they overcome obstacles to prepare to compete at London 2012. The showing was attended by Ambassadors, senior officials and sports and media personalities. But we […]
29th June 2012 London, UK
Supporting democracy in Pakistan with the EU
I’ve been thinking about how Pakistan is another area where EU collective action and UK foreign policy complement each other in a country that matters to us. As the world’s largest single market, diplomacy based on trade is a major strength for the EU. As a block formed of 27 states, the EU is able […]
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29th June 2012 Paris, France
Franco-British Cooperation on Defence
Franco-British Cooperation on Defence is very much in the news at the moment, with visit and speech by Minister for Europe David Lidington. The ambassador reflects on the CSDP and the key advantages of Europe, in particular France and the United Kingdom, in the domain of international security. The ambassador speaks of David Lidington’s video message and visit […]
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28th June 2012
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
New Approaches to Economic Challenges
The most common question I get in this job is “So what exactly does the OECD do?”. By the end of this blog I will have suggested that part of the answer is “it takes new approaches to economic challenges”. But let me start my answer by recalling the OECD’s founding mission, in 1961, “to promote policies designed […]
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28th June 2012 Guatemala City, Guatemala
GREAT British music: Going for Gold
“Going for Gold”, by Shed Seven if you remember them? A British indie band that was part of the Britpop scene back in the 90s. They’re still going strong, but “Going for Gold” was arguably their most successful song. It’s relevant this week because we’re gearing up to send off Guatemala’s Olympic athletes with a […]