FCO should import good ideas from other foreign ministries

MPs have called on the Foreign Office to look beyond the UK for better ways to practise diplomacy in a competitive global environment.

A report by the Foreign Affairs Committee suggested the FCO look for best practice in other ministries. In particular they recommended the introduction of a US-style Diplomacy and Development Review to join up the work of the FCO and DfID.

MPs also said emphasis needed to shift from managerialism to traditional diplomatic skills such as geographic knowledge and language expertise.