3rd December 2024
RENEWING OLD TIES: THE NEW BISHOP OF LONDON
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Blogs
A unique insight into UK foreign and development policy
25th November 2024
The climate crisis and gender-based violence
8th November 2024
Ecolabels: A Catalyst for Sustainable Food Choices?
14th January 2011 New York, USA
Royal Rendezvous!
Guest blog: Lauren Stone, Vice Consul, Consumer Goods- UK Trade & Investment I had a unique opportunity last night to be part of a group of spectators gathered to bid farewell to the Queen Victoria, Queen Mary 2, and Queen Elizabeth as they left New York Harbour. This was an historic occasion—only the second time […]
14th January 2011 Ottawa, Canada
Elinor moves on to other adventures!
Well, I guess it’s almost that time, time for our fabulous intern, who has been with us since October, to move on to her next adventure. She’s been a lot of fun to have around, extremely helpful, and will be greatly missed by all of us (me and Gill in particular). I’ve asked Elinor to […]
12th January 2011
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
A way to improve Ukrainian democracy in 2011
In what world ranking of democracy does Ukraine score three of the top eight places? As part of its end-year summary of the events of 2010, the respected British newspaper The Guardian recently published a picture gallery entitled “The Year in Parliamentary Punch-Ups“. The piece features pictures from Italy, Turkey, Nigeria, Taiwan, Argentina and Ukraine. […]
Read more on A way to improve Ukrainian democracy in 2011 | Reply
8th January 2011
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Passing on the Baton
Hungary is now officially Presidency of the Council of the European Union. I was present at a short and dignified ceremony on 6 January, in the spectacular Dome Hall of the Hungarian Parliament, when the Prime Minister of Belgium formally handed over this important function in the presence of a large audience of Ministers, officials, […]
6th January 2011
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Saint Thomas a Becket
We are in Esztergom on 5 January, for an annual ecumenical commemoration ceremony for Saint Thomas a Becket. The service takes place on top of the hill facing the Cathedral, on which Saint Thomas’s small chapel stands, in icy weather. This part of the event is kept brief – some short readings and prayers. I […]
5th January 2011
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
An exciting start to the New Year
I think it is true to say that Bolivia has been one of the more exciting places to be over Christmas and New Year – and I am not talking about the fireworks! One of the things I have noticed during my three and a half years here, is the tendency of Bolivians to focus very […]
5th January 2011 Ottawa, Canada
CFI Annual General Meeting
Now that I’ve given you all a more general overview of some of the Ottawa science events that have been keeping me on my toes, I thought I’d follow-up with a couple of shorter, slightly more detailed blogs on certain events that caught my attention. The CFI AGM was one such event, mostly as a result of […]
5th January 2011
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Eye of a storm
Well, for those of you who read my previous posting, I did get stuck in London when my plane was cancelled. I eventually made it back to Budapest on Tuesday with two of my children and a colleague – using a combination of taxis, train, ferry and a 16-hour drive from Calais in stormy weather conditions. […]
30th December 2010 New York, USA
12 Highlights of the NY-UK relationship
Holiday message from British Consul-General New York Sir Alan Collins: 2010 has been a busy, challenging and rewarding year at the Consulate. There are many ways to reflect on the year that was. In the spirit of the holiday season, and with apologies to the English carol “The Twelve Days of Christmas”, it strikes me […]
Read more on 12 Highlights of the NY-UK relationship | Reply
29th December 2010
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Gong with the wind
The traditional and the modern are about to come together at beautiful Godollo Palace, the venue for most of the Ministerial meetings under the Hungarian EU Presidency. I had not been to the Palace for some 20 years, when it was in ruinous condition. But last Friday the diplomatic corps were invited by Foreign Minister […]