Tackling the causes of modern slavery must be a top priority for the new Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
In a world that changes as fast as this one, constant intellectual regeneration should be our goal. Our recovery papers are a contribution to that.
It is our third largest market – we must work with it if we are to help resolve global problems from the environment to nuclear proliferation.
In that sense, his speech could easily have been given by a much more fitting figure for the Ditchley Foundation: Tony Blair.
The Coronavirus pandemic has taught us the importance of supply chain security, whether for PPE or critical minerals.
It is seldom a good sign when Governments decide to tinker with the Whitehall architecture.
Throughout the world, there has been a disconnect between British aid and other elements of our overseas policy.
Furthermore, the change creates a brand new cart to put before the horse – that’s to say, the awaited defence and security review.
A child dies every 20 seconds from a disease they could have been vaccinated against. The Government is determined to meet this challenge.
We must stand shoulder to shoulder with those who need us most. Not just because it is in our national interest, but because it is the right thing to do.
Plus: Don’t force MPs who are sick or shielding back to Parliament, Jacob. And: let’s divert aid money to seek a vaccine.
Hopefully it will be crisis averted, and we’ll have a bit more time to fix the hole. But sooner or later, difficult choices on tax and spending are coming.
Let’s use ever-increasing intelligence – and stop the flow of dirty money out of poor countries.
I was delighted to see your appointment. I confess to slight bias, given that you retweeted an article of mine calling for an end to ring-fencing of the aid budget.
Overseas aid is not just compassionate, but directly tackles the root causes of problems such as extremism and migration which impact us at home.