Foreign Affairs

Colin Marrs speaks to Tom Woodroffe – former adviser to William Hague – about the Foreign Office’s mission to put tackling sexual violence in conflict at the top of the international agenda

The UK’s deputy ambassador to Spain, Daniel Pruce, tells us what it’s like looking after Brits abroad – and why working across departments is so important

Simon McDonald, UK ambassador to Germany since 2010, to take up post as FCO's most senior official from September

Jess Bowie breaks bread with the outspoken chair of the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee

When Foreign Office letters on a plan to move the entire population of  Hong Kong to Northern Ireland turned up at the National Archives, many media outlets failed to spot the hoax. Former FCO official David Snoxell shares the story behind the correspondence, and warns against humour-free diplomacy

Philip Hammond tells MPs that while Treasury's 25% and 40% cuts call likely to be "aspirational", FCO must make "strategic" savings

Cabinet secretary says proposed purdah rule change is needed to eliminate legal uncertainty for ministers, and says civil service impartiality will not be undermined

Sir Simon Fraser expresses regret over lack of women on shortlist to succeed him as Foreign Office permanent secretary

Former health secretary says top civil servant's judgement "open to question" as MPs launch inquiry into "purdah" rule change ahead of EU vote

Chancellor uses first Conservative-only Budget to announce four more years of public sector pay restraint

Permanent secretary Sir Simon Fraser tells CSW the FCO must have “a comparable offer” with other departments

Conservative backbenchers put pressure on Downing Street to ensure machinery of government remains neutral in run-up to the European referendum