UK in Hungary

14th June 2013 Budapest, Hungary

by Jonathan Knott

Former British ambassador to Hungary, Budapest

Run for transparency

Guest blog by Foreign Policy, Justice and Home Affairs and Human Rights Attaché Levente Nyitrai On Sunday, 9 June I took part in the 20th K&H Budapest Marathon Relay. But it was about so much more than just some fun exercise. Let me run through the details. At the end of April I received an […]

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8th May 2013 Budapest, Hungary

by Jonathan Knott

Former British ambassador to Hungary, Budapest

Saying ‘no’ to hatred

I attended a gala dinner to launch the 14th Plenary Assembly of the World Jewish Congress on Sunday night. The leading figures of the Jewish communities of the world were there. And so were senior figures from the Hungarian Government, including PM Orbán, and leaders of opposition parties. I sat at a table with representatives […]

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18th March 2013 Budapest, Hungary

by Jonathan Knott

Former British ambassador to Hungary, Budapest

A passionate affair

I’m a big sports fan. So when the CEO of a British company asked if I’d like to go to a football match in which the Hungarian team they sponsor was playing in I said yes straight away. I’ve been in Hungary a year now and I hadn’t been to a game – and this […]

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7th March 2013 Budapest, Hungary

by Jonathan Knott

Former British ambassador to Hungary, Budapest

Commercial diplomacy in action

It’s been a long time since I last posted a blog. Not because I’ve got lazy! But because I’ve been travelling so much lately.  I’ve been away for large parts of three of the last four weeks. Each time for really good events, and each of which events were about the Central Europe region rather […]

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25th January 2013 Budapest, Hungary

by Jonathan Knott

Former British ambassador to Hungary, Budapest

The future of the EU and the UK’s role in it

As you may have seen, on Wednesday morning the British Prime Minister David Cameron delivered a speech in London entitled: ‘The Future of the EU and the UK’s role within it’. In the speech he set out his views as Head of Government of a flexible, adaptable and open European Union. As Conservative Party leader […]

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17th January 2013 Budapest, Hungary

by Jonathan Knott

Former British ambassador to Hungary, Budapest

A night at the circus

I went to the circus for the first time in ages this weekend – taking my family with me. We had great fun. The acts were good and there were no scary clowns!  And the place was absolutely full so the atmosphere was excellent. Quite apart from the content of the show, what made a […]

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21st December 2012 Budapest, Hungary

by Jonathan Knott

Former British ambassador to Hungary, Budapest

The best thing I’ve done in Budapest

I helped offer a Christmas lunch to the least well-off in Budapest today. It was the best thing I’ve done since I arrived here. The Hungarian Interchurch Aid organisation ran the event, with support from local companies, and I went down with a small group from the Embassy to do what we could to contribute. […]

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10th December 2012 Budapest, Hungary

by Jonathan Knott

Former British ambassador to Hungary, Budapest

It’s better to give than to receive

Guest blog by Foreign Policy, Justice and Home Affairs and Human Rights Attaché Levente Nyitrai As a young kid I used to not understand that saying. Every Christmas I was eagerly waiting for the chance to attack the nicely wrapped presents under the tree. The moments on Christmas Eve when we entered the until then […]

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29th November 2012 Budapest, Hungary

by Jonathan Knott

Former British ambassador to Hungary, Budapest

Gender and politics

Guest blog by MP Katalin Ertsey On a sunny August afternoon I received a phone call from the British Embassy asking if I would be able to attend an important gender politics conference in November. I was thrilled and humbled to find out that the Embassy would nominate me to represent the Hungarian Parliament at […]

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27th November 2012 Budapest, Hungary

by Jonathan Knott

Former British ambassador to Hungary, Budapest

Emerging Europe

I was back in the UK for a few days recently. I’m coordinating the work the UK’s Embassies in Central Europe do in promoting trade opportunities for British business in the region. Within Central Europe the export markets are modest by world standards.  But together they make up a market of some 100 million people. […]

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