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Locarno Group

The Locarno Group aim to support the development and implementation of the FCO’s foreign policy.

They will do this through direct discussion with and advice to the Foreign Secretary, drawing on the knowledge, experience and continuing engagement with foreign policy of senior FCO alumni. 

The Group's work will contribute to the Foreign Secretary’s wider efforts to strengthen the long term capability and international effectiveness of the FCO as an institution at the heart of government, and improve our country’s capacity to pursue effective foreign policy for the years and decades to come.

The group will convene formally at least once a year for discussions of strategic foreign policy issues chaired by the Foreign Secretary, and with relevant serving FCO officials in attendance.

The Group held their first meeting on 24 November 2011.

Ministers and senior officials intend to consult the Group’s members at other times as a sounding board and to provide alternative points of view and to assist in other ways as agreed between the FCO and members of the Group in the development and implementation of foreign policy.

Members of the Group will have the appropriate level of security clearance, so that they are able to access selected classified FCO papers to inform discussions.

The Group’s discussions will be treated as confidential advice to Ministers on the formulation and development of foreign policy. They will not be made public without the agreement of the Foreign Secretary.

Further meetings of the Group will be scheduled by mutual agreement between the FCO and members of the Group, and the purpose and membership of the Group will be reviewed after one year.

Membership

The group will be made up of senior FCO alumni, selected for their breadth of experience and expertise. The members of the group as of November 2011 are:

  • Sir Michael Arthur
  • Sir Daniel Bethlehem
  • Charles Crawford
  • Sir William Ehrman
  • Dame Glynne Evans
  • Ann Grant
  • Sir Jeremy Greenstock
  • Sir John Holmes
  • Matthew Kirk
  • Kate Smith
  • Sir Stephen Wall

The members of the Group are acting in an unpaid capacity, although the FCO will reimburse reasonable travel expenses incurred by participation in this Group.

Members of the Group may end their involvement in the group at any time by mutual agreement with the Foreign Secretary.