Jonathan Knott » Ambassador to Hungary, Budapest

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 of the Jewish community in the UK and around the world and had a really … Read more »Saying ‘no’ to hatred

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 looked like a golden opportunity. Then I found out that the game was going to … Read more »A passionate affair

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 than just about Hungary. But they’ve taken up so much time! Let me tell you … Read more »Commercial diplomacy in action

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 the Prime Minister also set out Conservative Party policy to seek a mandate at the … Read more »The future of the EU and the UK’s role in it

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 big impression on me was the tradition of, and in, the performances. The acts were … Read more »A night at the circus

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. Having chatted with the organisers and done some media interviews to try to promote this … Read more »The best thing I’ve done in Budapest

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 closed room and started singing Christmas carols before opening them seemed ages. Today, the 10th … Read more »It’s better to give than to receive

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 the International Parliamentary Conference on Gender and Politics. As the most active MP on gender … Read more »Gender and politics

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. And a combined GDP of around 1 trillion Euros. That, together with the fact that … Read more »Emerging Europe

Guest blog by Foreign Policy, Justice and Home Affairs and Human Rights Attaché Levente Nyitrai …and surprises seem to like me too as I’ve had plenty of them in the past few months. In July I found out that I’d been nominated for the British Civil Service Diversity and Equality Award in the so-called Individual Achievement category. That was a very pleasant surprise. A few weeks later I was told … Read more »I like surprises…