Ministers admit it’s too early to know cost of merging FCO and DfID
05 Oct 2020 Foreign Affairs
Ministers admit it’s too early to know cost of merging FCO and DfID
Committee chair “astonished” government failed to consult stakeholders before announcing creation of FCDO
Integrated defence review should bolster key civil service professions, think tank says
29 Sep 2020 Foreign Affairs
Integrated defence review should bolster key civil service professions, think tank says
RUSI says investing in analytical capability 'the most cost-effective means of real change' to improve UK's risk management
FCDO admits ‘some roles may change’ because of merger
28 Sep 2020 Foreign Affairs
FCDO admits ‘some roles may change’ because of merger
MPs are told department will await the outcome of a wider review before deciding on new nationality requirements
FCDO creation puts scores of former DfID staff in limbo, warns union
09 Sep 2020 Foreign Affairs
FCDO creation puts scores of former DfID staff in limbo, warns union
PCS says new department’s policy on fixed-term contracts is also unfair to underrepresented groups
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office launched with pledge to lead global action on coronavirus and famine
02 Sep 2020 Foreign Affairs
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office launched with pledge to lead global action on coronavirus and famine
DfID acting perm sec Nick Dyer given new role as special envoy for famine prevention and humanitarian affairs after merger
MPs demand Dominic Cummings explain 'unclear' role in defence review
18 Aug 2020 Foreign Affairs
MPs demand Dominic Cummings explain 'unclear' role in defence review
Defence Committee chair Tobias Ellwood says Boris Johnson’s chief spad has twice been called to give evidence
IfG calls for clearer Whitehall structure for trade talks as it warns of ‘recipe for disaster’
11 Aug 2020 Foreign Affairs
IfG calls for clearer Whitehall structure for trade talks as it warns of ‘recipe for disaster’
Simultaneous trade negotiations could overwhelm existing structures, says think tank
Coronavirus: Failure to toughen border measures made pandemic 'much worse', MPs say
05 Aug 2020 Foreign Affairs
Coronavirus: Failure to toughen border measures made pandemic 'much worse', MPs say
Committee told up to 10,000 people with Covid-19 entered or returned to the country in March
First Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Department head named
03 Aug 2020 Foreign Affairs
First Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Department head named
High commissioner to India Sir Philip Barton will be first to lead the expanded ministry
Coronavirus: Foreign Office ‘too slow‘ to repatriate Brits stranded abroad when pandemic hit
28 Jul 2020 Foreign Affairs
Coronavirus: Foreign Office ‘too slow‘ to repatriate Brits stranded abroad when pandemic hit
MPs praise staff for work in “challenging conditions" of Covid-19
‘Everybody has been doing the most incredible work. I’m very impressed’: Queen’s tribute to FCO staff
27 Jul 2020 Foreign Affairs
‘Everybody has been doing the most incredible work. I’m very impressed’: Queen’s tribute to FCO staff
Head of state praises department’s coronavirus work on virtual visit as portrait is unveiled
MPs slam Boris Johnson’s ‘impulsive’ decision to merge DfID with the Foreign Office
17 Jul 2020 Foreign Affairs
MPs slam Boris Johnson’s ‘impulsive’ decision to merge DfID with the Foreign Office
Government urged to retain the ICAI aid watchdog after overseas aid department's abolition
Data gaps holding back DIT's export strategy despite 'good start', NAO says
16 Jul 2020 Foreign Affairs
Data gaps holding back DIT's export strategy despite 'good start', NAO says
Unclear whether DIT has focused its efforts in regions and sectors where opportunities are greatest, watchdog finds
Foreign Office names first human rights abusers to be targeted by UK post-Brexit sanction regime
07 Jul 2020 Foreign Affairs
Foreign Office names first human rights abusers to be targeted by UK post-Brexit sanction regime
Government sends very clear message that ‘those with blood on their hands will not be free to waltz into this country to buy up property’, says Dominic Raab
Operationally led, digitally enabled: A fresh approach to transforming legacy border systems Sponsored
07 Jul 2020 Foreign Affairs
Operationally led, digitally enabled: A fresh approach to transforming legacy border systems
Simon Daykin, Chief Technology Officer at Leidos, on how to deliver a more advanced border through digital transformation
O’Donnell: Frost's appointment as national security adviser ‘risks civil service politicisation’
29 Jun 2020 Foreign Affairs
O’Donnell: Frost's appointment as national security adviser ‘risks civil service politicisation’
PM says Frost will reinvigorate UK’s national security architecture but former top officials warn of "groupthink" risk
Truss refuses to rule out DIT merger with new foreign and development department
25 Jun 2020 Foreign Affairs
Truss refuses to rule out DIT merger with new foreign and development department
"I’m not focused on the precise structure of Whitehall," Truss tells MPs
Home Office to spell out plan to implement full Windrush review before summer
24 Jun 2020 Foreign Affairs
Home Office to spell out plan to implement full Windrush review before summer

Home secretary pledges to ensure Home Office “fundamentally shifts its way of working” after report
Home Office faces court challenge over 'discriminatory' visa algorithm
22 Jun 2020 Foreign Affairs
Home Office faces court challenge over 'discriminatory' visa algorithm

JCWI says the algirith discriminates on the basis of nationality – by design"
'Our country is stronger for your service': Sedwill confirms McDonald to retire as FCO perm sec
19 Jun 2020 Foreign Affairs
'Our country is stronger for your service': Sedwill confirms McDonald to retire as FCO perm sec

Departure comes as PM seeks new leadership for merged  Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
Foreign Office head Simon McDonald to step down early next year – reports
18 Jun 2020 Foreign Affairs
Foreign Office head Simon McDonald to step down early next year – reports

Diplomat will oversee merger with DfID but will not lead FCDO long term, sources say
Home Office unable to demonstrate immigration enforcement efforts are working, NAO finds
17 Jun 2020 Foreign Affairs
Home Office unable to demonstrate immigration enforcement efforts are working, NAO finds

Department needs a better understanding of the impact of its immigration enforcement activity on meeting its policy aims, report says
'Wrong and regressive': three former prime ministers condemn DfID-FCO merger
17 Jun 2020 Foreign Affairs
'Wrong and regressive': three former prime ministers condemn DfID-FCO merger

Union warns of "huge uncertainty and unease for DfID staff" as David Cameron calls the move a "mistake"
DfID and Foreign Office to merge, PM announces
16 Jun 2020 Foreign Affairs
DfID and Foreign Office to merge, PM announces

Scrapping of aid department follows appointment of joint ministers in February, widely seen as a soft merger