Britain makes new senior diplomatic appointments
David Blackburn 2:53pm
From the Number 10 website:
The Prime Minister is pleased to confirm the following senior appointments:Sir Peter Ricketts, currently the Prime Minister’s National Security Advisor, to become HM Ambassador to France;
Sir Jon Cunliffe, currently the Prime Minister’s Advisor on Europe and Global Issues, to become the UK’s Permanent Representative to the European Union in Brussels;
Sir Kim Darroch, currently the UK’s Permanent Representative to the EU, to become the Prime Minister’s National Security Adviser; and
Sir Peter Westmacott, currently HM Ambassador France, to become HM Ambassador to Washington.
These changes will take effect from January 2012.These appointments were approved by the Prime Minister and for the appointment of HM Ambassador to Paris and Washington by HM The Queen.
Sir Peter Ricketts has been National Security Adviser since the formation of the Coalition Government in May 2010; before that he was Permanent Under Secretary at the FCO. He has served in Paris before, in the mid 1990s, and his recent career has included a spell as UK Permanent Representative to NATO.
Sir Jon Cunliffe has been the Prime Minister’s Adviser on Europe and Global Issues and the UK’s G20 and G8 Sherpa since July 2007. Before that he was 2nd Permanent Secretary at the Treasury, responsible for the Treasury’s EU and international business and macroeconomic policy. In that role he was also the Treasury’s official representative on the EU’s Economic and Financial Committee and at the G7 and G20.
Sir Kim Darroch has been the UK Permanent Representative to the EU since July 2007. His previous role was EU Adviser to the Prime Minister. Earlier in his career, he headed the Foreign Office Balkans Department during the break-up of Yugoslavia, and served overseas in the British Embassies in Tokyo and Rome.
Sir Peter Westmacott has been the UK’s Ambassador to the French Republic since 2007. Previously he was Ambassador to Turkey in 2002 and FCO Deputy Under Secretary from 2000. Earlier in his career, from 1993 to 1997, he was Counsellor for Political and Public Affairs in Washington, before returning to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office as Director, Americas. From 1990 to 1993, he was Deputy Private Secretary to HRH The Prince of Wales.
Previous
Verity
June 24th, 2011 3:02pm Report this commentRe John Cunliff .. why do we need a "permanent representative" to an organisation of which we are a part?
TrevorsDen
June 24th, 2011 3:23pm Report this commentBecause he is the permanent representative for us, representing us, at that organisation you idiot.
Like have you never heard of our permanent representative to the UN, who is currently Sir Mark Lyall Grant?
Matt
June 24th, 2011 3:28pm Report this commentAs Douglas Carswell has been saying over the last few months, the appointment of Jon Cunliffe is an absolute disgrace. An Ambassador who signed his country up to huge bailout liabilities is guilty of an almost treasonous betrayal.
JGS
June 24th, 2011 3:44pm Report this commentWhy the insult, TrevorsDen? What possible interest do readers of the Spectator have in childish abuse? It's a shame that this site has become so unpleasant.
David Ossitt
June 24th, 2011 4:16pm Report this commentTrevorsDen
“representing us, at that organisation you idiot.”
Why the nasty tone?
Why do you answer a simple polite question such as: - “why do we need a "permanent representative" to an organisation of which we are a part?” in such an aggressive manner?
There was no justification for name calling and whatever opinions you might have formed of the lady in question she is most certainly not an idiot.
A simple apology from you, to her might well suffice.
Robert Eve
June 24th, 2011 4:29pm Report this commentWell said Matt @ 3.28
Santorum
June 24th, 2011 4:52pm Report this commentMatt
Did Cunliffe sign us up or was that the ministers he serves?
Verity
June 24th, 2011 4:58pm Report this commentJGS and David Ossitt - Thank you, gentlemen! (If JGS is a lady, then "Thank you both!")
Verity
June 24th, 2011 5:01pm Report this commentMatt: "An Ambassador who signed his country up to huge bailout liabilities is guilty of an almost treasonous betrayal."
But the decision wasn't the ambassador's! Ambassadors don't get to go around making decisions about deployment of taxpayer money.
Do they?
Sam
June 24th, 2011 5:13pm Report this commentI don't think Verity's comment was pleasant - I think it was quite pointed and aggressive. And she (deliberately?) misspelled his name, showing an accidental or deliberate disdain for the appointment. So I think TrevorsDen was well within his rights.
Inigo Unsworth
June 24th, 2011 5:35pm Report this commentOn this occasion I agree wholeheartedly with Verity as her question was perfectly valid. The rude response was unwarranted and I would hope that the pleasant atmosphere of a vigorous exchange of ideas which characterises this blog continues.
What is wrong with good old-fashioned politeness?
Verity
June 24th, 2011 5:59pm Report this commentSam, I "deliberately misspelled" whose name?
What an absolutely moronic thing to post!
Verity
June 24th, 2011 6:00pm Report this commentSam, is your other identity "Trevors Den" by any chance? You seem to be taking all this very personally.
MaxSceptic
June 24th, 2011 7:14pm Report this commentWill Sir Jon Cunliffe, currently the Prime Minister’s Advisor on Europe and Global Issues, to become the UK’s Permanent Representative to the European Union in Brussels now have to kiss Baroness Ashton's ring? She is, after all, the head of the venerable External Action Service (a name that sounds like some 1930s fascist organisation of street-fighting thugs).
(TrevorsDen and Sam may find the above question insulting. Tough).
Matt
June 24th, 2011 7:29pm Report this comment@Verity
In the death throws of a Labour government, who has the power? The UKREP in Brussels, or a government with one foot out the door.
Carswell seems to think that Cunliffe pushed VERY hard for us to be a part of EFSM, and I have no reason to doubt this. The behaviour of civil servants and diplomats over the EU has been bordering on 'Sir Humphrey' levels of manipulation.
All Ambassadors, Permanent Reps, Permanent Secretaries and senior civil servants should be nominated and be subject to an approval vote of the relevant Select Committee. If Cameron truly is a reformer, he will democratise the selection process.
David Ossitt
June 24th, 2011 8:06pm Report this commentSam
“I don't think Verity's comment was pleasant - I think it was quite pointed and aggressive. And she (deliberately?) misspelled his name, showing an accidental or deliberate disdain for the appointment. So I think TrevorsDen was well within his rights.”
Sam, pleas might I play the pedant; by asking you a few questions.
Precisely what do you find unpleasant or displeasing in Verity’s post below?
‘Pointed’ I will happily grant you but aggressive, where, how, to whom?
She (deliberately) misspelled his name?
Would that infer or imply that you are a
psychic or possibly psychopathic?
What is wrong with expressing or showing disdain, either accidentally or deliberately for this mans appointment?
One small point had she shown disdain, it would most certainly have been deliberate.
Finally what rights do you speak of when you write, so I think TrevorsDen was well within his rights?
"Re John Cunliff .. why do we need a "permanent representative" to an organisation of which we are a part?"
Back to top