FCDO chief admits he was wrong to continue holiday as Afghan crisis unfolded
08 Dec 2021 Foreign Affairs
FCDO chief admits he was wrong to continue holiday as Afghan crisis unfolded
But Philip Barton says whistleblower's work-life balance claims about his department are a "misunderstanding"
'Thousands of emails went unread': FCDO handling of Kabul crisis 'chaotic', whistleblower claims
07 Dec 2021 Foreign Affairs
'Thousands of emails went unread': FCDO handling of Kabul crisis 'chaotic', whistleblower claims
"Avoidable problems... significantly undermined the efficacy of our evacuation effort”, ex-civil servant says
'The most rewarding work I’ve ever done': Kabul evacuation supported by rapid response team
01 Dec 2021 Foreign Affairs
'The most rewarding work I’ve ever done': Kabul evacuation supported by rapid response team
Manager within Surge and Rapid Response Team "shed tears of joy" on hearing that family she helped had returned to the UK
DIT seeks next cyber security ambassador
12 Nov 2021 Foreign Affairs
DIT seeks next cyber security ambassador
DIT to pay recruiter £18,750 to fill “highly specialist and sensitive" role
UK still faces Brexit delivery risks, NAO warns
08 Nov 2021 Foreign Affairs
UK still faces Brexit delivery risks, NAO warns
Government cannot delay the introduction of import controls “indefinitely”, watchdog says
FCDO told to stop focusing on 'fast results' from climate change aid
26 Oct 2021 Foreign Affairs
FCDO told to stop focusing on 'fast results' from climate change aid
MPs tell department to listen to local and marginalised communities when handling climate finance
Perm secs' holidays did not impact Afghan crisis, national security adviser says
21 Oct 2021 Foreign Affairs
Perm secs' holidays did not impact Afghan crisis, national security adviser says
Whitehall structures delivered “continuity of senior leadership”, Stephen Lovegrove tells MPs
FCDO to sell off slice of Tokyo embassy compound
18 Oct 2021 Foreign Affairs
FCDO to sell off slice of Tokyo embassy compound
Proceeds will fund upgrade of remaining buildings and work on wider diplomatic estate
EU offers to end most Northern Ireland checks in bid to break Brexit deadlock
13 Oct 2021 Foreign Affairs
EU offers to end most Northern Ireland checks in bid to break Brexit deadlock
Proposals expected to dramatically reduce the number of checks on goods moving from Great Britain
FCO and DfID merger seen as failure, survey of officials finds
29 Sep 2021 Foreign Affairs
FCO and DfID merger seen as failure, survey of officials finds
Civil service leaders’ union says just 7.5% of respondents believe creation of Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has been a success
NI grace periods to be extended indefinitely
07 Sep 2021 Foreign Affairs
NI grace periods to be extended indefinitely
Extension will “provide space for potential further discussions”, David Frost says
Suits you? FCDO seeks diamond expert to prevent trade in conflict gems
06 Sep 2021 Foreign Affairs
Suits you? FCDO seeks diamond expert to prevent trade in conflict gems
'Sworn diamond expert' will help ensure compliance with the Kimberley Process
Local leaders slam government’s Afghan resettlement scheme ‘shambles’
03 Sep 2021 Foreign Affairs
Local leaders slam government’s Afghan resettlement scheme ‘shambles’
Local authority leaders call for government to ensure there is sufficient support for Operation Warm Welcome
Raab confirms Afghan British Embassy guards left behind in Kabul
02 Sep 2021 Foreign Affairs
Raab confirms Afghan British Embassy guards left behind in Kabul
Failure to evacuate guards was "reflection of the conditions on the ground", foreign secretary tells MPs
Officials will reply to unread emails about trapped Afghans 'in days', Raab pledges
01 Sep 2021 Foreign Affairs
Officials will reply to unread emails about trapped Afghans 'in days', Raab pledges
Foreign secretary says there are "a lot of cases that need to be sifted" after whistleblower reveals 5,000 email backlog
Truss names new HM trade commissioners
01 Sep 2021 Foreign Affairs
Truss names new HM trade commissioners
Former acting DG for negotiations and German-based deputy start new roles
MPs to probe FCDO's handling of Afghan crisis after sensitive documents found at Kabul embassy
27 Aug 2021 Foreign Affairs
MPs to probe FCDO's handling of Afghan crisis after sensitive documents found at Kabul embassy
Defence secretary Ben Wallace says failure to destroy details of local contacts was “clearly not good enough”
Raab: 'With benefit of hindsight, I would have been back earlier' from holiday as Kabul fell
25 Aug 2021 Foreign Affairs
Raab: 'With benefit of hindsight, I would have been back earlier' from holiday as Kabul fell
"We were all surprised by the scale and the pace of the collapse of the situation," foreign secretary says after calls to resign
Civil servants 'will feel guilt and responsibility forever' over death of five-year-old Afghan refugee
24 Aug 2021 Foreign Affairs
Civil servants 'will feel guilt and responsibility forever' over death of five-year-old Afghan refugee
"Misleading to suggest that the Home Office does not take our responsibilities towards children in our care seriously," DG says
Home Office urged to open evacuation route for LGBTQ+ Afghans
23 Aug 2021 Foreign Affairs
Home Office urged to open evacuation route for LGBTQ+ Afghans
"It is essential the government does what it can to help and protect LGBTQ+ Afghans like women and girls and religious minorities," MPs' group chair says
Dominic Raab ‘could face sack’ over Afghanistan crisis call
20 Aug 2021 Foreign Affairs
Dominic Raab ‘could face sack’ over Afghanistan crisis call
Pressure mounts on foreign secretary as departmental perm secs take flak for being on holiday at time of crisis
Afghan crisis ‘entirely predictable’, ex-national security adviser says
19 Aug 2021 Foreign Affairs
Afghan crisis ‘entirely predictable’, ex-national security adviser says
Military veteran MP condemns “shameful” response as Raab draws fire for failing to cut short Mediterranean holiday
Home Office ‘to keep Afghan refugee policy under review’ as government responds to Taliban takeover
17 Aug 2021 Foreign Affairs
Home Office ‘to keep Afghan refugee policy under review’ as government responds to Taliban takeover
Scope of resettlement to be considered ‘based on capacity for support’, the department says
UK ambassador to Afghanistan remains in Kabul processing asylum claims as Taliban takes capital
16 Aug 2021 Foreign Affairs
UK ambassador to Afghanistan remains in Kabul processing asylum claims as Taliban takes capital
Sir Laurie Bristow reported to be personally handling claims from Afghan interpreters at Kabul airport as defence secretary warns some people would ‘not get back’