About this blog
Welcome to my blog - I'm Charles Reed and I advise the Church of England on foreign policy issues.
This blog covers a variety of topics from US foreign policy to European politics and the Middle East - and whatever else happens to be in the news or catch my attention.
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Tag Archives: Bishop of Wakefield
Europe and its future(s)
Ecumenical visits to Helsinki, Finland and then to Novi Saad, Serbia, followed by the debate on the Queen’s Speech has meant there has been little time to blog. There has certainly been no shortage of issues to write about –Chicago … Continue reading
Posted in Ecumenism, Europe
Tagged Afghanistan, Bishop of Guildford, Bishop of Lichfield, Bishop of Wakefield, CEC, EU, European Ecumenism, Greece, International Development, O.7%, Queen's Speech
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Revoking Assad’s licence to kill
Over the last few weeks I’ve been working with partners to coordinate a package of activities around the one year anniversary of the Syrian uprising on March 15th. The first part of this is now complete, with publication of an … Continue reading
Posted in Middle East
Tagged Assad, Bishop of Wakefield, Crisis Action, Financial Times, Middle East, Syria
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Seeking a Compromise on the Armed Forces Bill
With the Conference season in full swing Parliament is enjoying the Autumn recess. This does not mean that the Parliamentary work stops – most of last week was taken up meeting with Peers of various political persuasions who are concerned … Continue reading
The Cost of Honouring the Military Covenant
Yesterday in Parliament Peers considered in Grand Committee the Armed Forces Bill. Most of the amendments under consideration, including that by the Bishop of Wakefield, related to Clause 2 and how the Bill’s provisions regarding the Military Covenant might best … Continue reading
Providing for the welfare of our veterans
Next week, on the eve of the 10th anniversary of 9/11, the House of Lords will debate in Committee the Armed Forces Bill. The Bishop of Wakefield, the Rt Revd Stephen Platten, the Church’s lead Bishop on defence and security, has over the … Continue reading
Posted in Defence
Tagged 9/11, Armed Forces Bill, Armed Forces Covenant, Bishop of Wakefield, House of Lords, Military Covenant, veterans, welfare
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The Armed Forces Bill
The House of Commons Armed Forces Bill Committee reported yesterday on its findings of the Armed Forces Bill currently making its way through Parliament. For those who might have missed this, an Armed Forces Bill is required every five years in … Continue reading
Posted in Defence
Tagged Armed Forces Bill, Armed Forces Bill Committee, Bishop of Wakefield, Ministry of Defence
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Why the Government and Royal British Legion are Both Wrong on the Military Covenant
Yesterday, Chris Simpkins, the Director-General of the Royal British Legion accused the Prime Minister of reneging on the pledge to rebuild the Military Covenant. Chris Simpkins certainly has a case, but only half a case. The Armed Forces Bill currently … Continue reading
Religious Freedom and British Foreign Policy: How do we Manage the Persecution Complex?
The question of religious freedom, or more specifically violence against Christian minorities in predominantly Moslem countries, has featured high on the work agenda since I returned from my Christmas jaunt to Andalucía. Against a rising tide of popular concern, bishops … Continue reading
What Future NATO? – The Bishop of Wakefield Reflects on the NATO Summit
After my post last Thursday on the prospects for the forthcoming NATO summit in Lisbon, the Rt Revd Stephen Platten, the Bishop of Wakefield and the lead bishop on international security affairs, offers his own expert reflections on the subject. These … Continue reading
Posted in NATO
Tagged Bishop of Wakefield, Church of England, Georgia, Just War, NATO, Stephen Platten, Strategic Concept
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