Home Office helpline ‘was not ready' to help Ukrainian refugees come to the UK after visas extended
02 Mar 2022 Foreign Affairs
Home Office helpline ‘was not ready' to help Ukrainian refugees come to the UK after visas extended
Home Office encouraged people who met the new criteria to call a helpline but now says the scheme will open on Friday
Boris Johnson promises to make it easier for Ukrainians with relatives in the UK to get visas
01 Mar 2022 Foreign Affairs
Boris Johnson promises to make it easier for Ukrainians with relatives in the UK to get visas
Amid confusion over what the current policy is to support Ukrainian refugees, Priti Patel is expected to give an update today
Foreign Office IT woes still causing 'chaos' as Ukraine war unfolds
28 Feb 2022 Foreign Affairs
Foreign Office IT woes still causing 'chaos' as Ukraine war unfolds
Problems caused by failure to integrate FCO and DfID IT systems slowing down work, insiders say
PM pledges to ‘hobble Russian economy’ following Ukraine invasion
24 Feb 2022 Foreign Affairs
PM pledges to ‘hobble Russian economy’ following Ukraine invasion
Truss summons ambassador to explain “illegal, unprovoked” onslaughts
Watchdog examining ‘serious cybersecurity incident’ at FCDO
10 Feb 2022 Foreign Affairs
Watchdog examining ‘serious cybersecurity incident’ at FCDO
Department discloses that it was the target of an attack
Government must do ‘much more’ to tackle Brexit border issues, MPs warn
09 Feb 2022 Foreign Affairs
Government must do ‘much more’ to tackle Brexit border issues, MPs warn
Border disruption could get even worse as passenger numbers increase and stricter new EU checks are introduced
Foreign Office chief apologises over 'mistaken' evidence to MPs about Afghan animal rescue
31 Jan 2022 Foreign Affairs
Foreign Office chief apologises over 'mistaken' evidence to MPs about Afghan animal rescue
Barton says he has "no recollection of having seen emails" suggesting staff believed the PM authorised the evacuation of animals
FCDO chief ‘not aware’ staff believed PM approved Afghan animal evacuation
27 Jan 2022 Foreign Affairs
FCDO chief ‘not aware’ staff believed PM approved Afghan animal evacuation
Leaked emails suggest officials believed Boris Johnson authorised the evacuation of animals from Kabul
DIT launches search for ‘next generation’ of trade negotiators
20 Jan 2022 Foreign Affairs
DIT launches search for ‘next generation’ of trade negotiators
Post-Brexit programme offers up to £35k a year to latest wave of trainees
FCDO job cuts 'at odds with Global Britain ambitions', warn MPs and peers
21 Dec 2021 Foreign Affairs
FCDO job cuts 'at odds with Global Britain ambitions', warn MPs and peers
Joint committee also flags concerns over government’s “relaxed approach to national security”
FCDO morale at ‘rock bottom’ as government denies 10% staff cuts planned
17 Dec 2021 Foreign Affairs
FCDO morale at ‘rock bottom’ as government denies 10% staff cuts planned
Unions condemn "mixed messages" after an email sent to officials said there would be cuts and voluntary redundancy schemes
MoD spent millions on Afghan crisis charter flights Exclusive
16 Dec 2021 Foreign Affairs
MoD spent millions on Afghan crisis charter flights
Ministry closed five short-notice whole-aircraft charter agreements over nine days in August
DIT has made progress in improving capacity for trade deals, says NAO
14 Dec 2021 Foreign Affairs
DIT has made progress in improving capacity for trade deals, says NAO
But department needs to ensure agreements are delivering “real benefits”, watchdog warns
Lack of political leadership was 'fundamental failing' of Afghan crisis, ex-national security adviser says
09 Dec 2021 Foreign Affairs
Lack of political leadership was 'fundamental failing' of Afghan crisis, ex-national security adviser says
Lord Ricketts says National Security Council could have helped overloaded FCDO, while former Army head calls for perm sec to resign
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