23rd July 2019 Geneva, Switzerland
Last month I squeezed in a visit to Kigali in Rwanda for the 5th Commonwealth Red Cross and Red Crescent Conference on International Humanitarian Law (IHL). I was there to speak on two panels, about the UK’s recent report on implementation of IHL and about our forthcoming global summit on preventing sexual violence in conflict. The UK […]
13th March 2017 Holy See
The Commonwealth and the Holy See represent the two largest soft power networks in the world. The Holy See has over 1.2 billion faithful globally, and a network of Bishops, NGOs and religious congregations which reach deep into the societies of the countries where they live. The Commonwealth is made up of 52 countries with […]
21st August 2015 Colombo, Sri Lanka
Monday’s general election was very tight. It was also remarkably peaceful. From the President and Elections Commissioner down, all involved have commented positively on the conduct of the election, many describing it as Sri Lanka’s best in decades. It’s not for the UK to support one party over another. Our interest is for Sri Lanka […]
5th May 2015
It is rather poignant that the 70th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day – 8 May 1945, the day that World War II in Europe officially ended – falls the day after the British General Election. It reminds us of the fundamental reason why Britain went to war in 1939, reluctantly but determinedly; to […]
9th March 2015 British High Commission, Kingston, Jamaica
Guest blog by the Rt Hon Hugo Swire MP, Minister of State for the Commonwealth We all know that the Commonwealth has a long and distinguished history. More than 1.7 million Commonwealth men and women gave their lives in two World Wars, defending the free world. But no organisation can be complacent. The Commonwealth must […]
15th December 2014
The UK’s fourteen Overseas Territories add a particular dimension to British foreign policy and our world view. I often write in these pages about the global Holy See network. The United Kingdom has long had, and still retains, a global role, of which our fourteen Overseas Territories are both one result and an ongoing manifestation. […]
Read more on Britain’s global horizons: international partners and penguins | Reply
30th September 2014
The Commonwealth and the Holy See represent the two largest soft power networks in the world today. The Commonwealth with its 53 countries, 2.2bn citizens, and common values as expressed in its Charter focused on democracy, equitable economic development, good governance, young people, human rights, and social progress. The Holy See as the central governance of […]
29th August 2014 Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei
Our guest blogger this week is Izzah Jomari from the Brunei Economic Dvelopment Board who was nominated for the 33Fifty programme. Read her blog about her unique Commonwealth youth leaders experience. As part of the 2014 Commonwealth Games legacy, a leadership programme was organized for Commonwealth youth leaders aged between 18 to 25. The programme was […]
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31st October 2013 Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei
Early Tuesday morning. A bright and beautiful day. I am about to run the first couple of legs of a special relay linking 12 schools in Bandar, all eager to hold the Queen’s Baton during its two day stay in Brunei. The baton is surprisingly heavy since it’s made of titanium and solid wood. But […]
10th October 2013 Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei
Yesterday, I watched snippets from Buckingham Palace of the launch of The Queen’s Baton Relay on the news. This is a much enjoyed tradition in the run up to every Commonwealth Games where Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II places inside the baton a message to the Commonwealth. The baton will now travel 190,000 kilometres to […]