Nearly nine years on from the self-immolation of Mohammed Bouazizi, the Tunisian fruit seller prevented from selling vegetables by state officials, that kickstarted the ‘Arab Spring’, protests are once again gripping several Arab countries....
When we think of front-line services protecting and serving the British public, we rarely think of diplomats. But that is what they often are, scattered across over 120 countries, often in small embassies of just 1 or 2 UK staff, albeit supported by hardworking locals....
On Monday the Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt gave a speech at the Mansion House in London on the UK after Brexit. The speech was noted in particular for straying beyond the traditional limits of foreign policy into defence and domestic issues. But whilst it is...
On 26th March the BFPG co-hosted an event with the Sheffield Chamber of Commerce on the city and region’s international links and ambitions with around 80 people from across the region’s business and cultural communities. We were very grateful for the support and input of...
It may seem impossible to see through the Brexit fog, but the rest of the world continues to present significant challenges and opportunities for the UK in 2019. Many of the top ten countdowns over the New Year focused on risks – and they remain...
The British Foreign Policy Group has now for two years been hosting events and building networks around the UK to engage with communities and better understand the shifting dynamics of the UK’s international links and ambitions. Our most recent event was in Coventry, talk to...
Jeremy Hunt’s speech suggesting external appointments might be made to the FCO is important, and welcome, but it’s not new. The debate over the merits of external appointments to key diplomatic positions has gone back and forth within and around the FCO for some years....
Jeremy Hunt has the opportunity to bring NHS experience to a whole set of new challenges at the Foreign Office. What does he bring to the job?...
A commentary by Tom Cargill reacting to Tom Tugendhat’s speech at RUSI in which he called for Boris Johnson to be given "more power"....
The latest BFPG report, "The Price of Freedom? A 3% GDP Target for Securing UK International Interests" discusses whether our current spending (around 2.75% of our GDP in 2016/2017) is sufficient to protect and promote our interests and values internationally at a time of unprecedented change in...