Denis Keefe

Former Ambassador 🇷🇸🇬🇪 | 🇨🇿Governor English College in Prague | Trustee Hospices of Hope

[Denis Keefe @DenisKeefe]

This is it. After 40 years I am retiring today. I have had a fascinating career and the privilege to work with wonderful people round the world. Thank you to everyone - and above all to @SingenBingen The road goes ever on and on

[Denis Keefe @DenisKeefe]

@StephenLillieUK @FionaMullenCY @FCDOMJLodge Congratulations!

[Dr Roger Hutton @rogerxhutton]

Performance related pay doesn't work. Nobody goes the extra mile for a small uplift - they do so because they want to do the best job they can. And it demotivates the many who don't quite cross the line.
https://t.co/6aXbtCF47w

[Denis Keefe @DenisKeefe]

@rogerxhutton And it's not new. Governments keep trying it. It always ends up as a way of squeezing the pay bill. So even if money did motivate public service (it doesn't) it becomes self defeating.

[Kate Keefe @SingenBingen]

Can you name everyone in your pew? Everyone has several people that they meet regularly and can't put a name to, but I'd like to do better in church specifically. Here's my latest for @The_Tablet on why it matters:
https://t.co/zYMn2eHoJO

[Denis Keefe @DenisKeefe]

@sundersays Congratulations!

[Board of Deputies of British Jews @BoardofDeputies]

Caricaturists and their editors must take care that their depictions of Jews in public life do not wade into centuries old anti-Jewish tropes.

We have seen a number of examples of political cartoons published depicting Zack Polanski that are a cause for concern.

We call on publications to show the utmost vigilance and stringency on these issues.

[Baroness Foster DBE #FreeIran🦁❤️ @jfoster2019]

Excellent response to Sir Tony Brenton ..

[Nigel Baker @NigelMBaker1]

I have spent many hours as ambassador supporting Jewish communities. I received Rabbis Jonathan Sacks and Ephraim Mirvis at🇻🇦. I have knelt on pavements to clean stolpersteine in 🇮🇹, 🇨🇿, 🇸🇮, 🇭🇺 and 🇸🇰. I condemn what is happening in 🇬🇧. We must wake up! I stand with #BritishJews

[Ben Judah @b_judah]

I am, like most British Jews, growing really frustrated with this vague talk about “division and unity and hate.”

We have a very specific problem here. An IRGC cut out is recruiting disaffected Islamist-radicalised men, many long known to the police and negligently left ambling about, to a conduct a targeted intifada against the London Jewish community. And both our counter intelligence and counter terror forces are failing to intercept them.

I don’t need a mass London rally of well wishers or cultural luminaires to post their wishes — nice as that is — I need an actual security strategy to clamp down on this so my community can go about our lives in peace as is our absolute minimum right. And I need politicians to call the problem for what it is — not good vibes.

[Paul JohnstonIUA @PJohnstonFCDO]

Parallel NSCs is a recipe for confusion, at best. All you need to make the existing NSC work is ministers brave enough to ask for challenging advice and officials bright enough to produce it.

[Denis Keefe @DenisKeefe]

@cabinetofficeuk @QETrust @RoyalFamily This is terrible

[Simon Fraser @SimonFraser00]

Views may differ on whether Olly Robbins should have somehow shared that issues had arisen in vetting. But his evidence shows that in a complex situation he took his responsibilities very seriously, did not act incompetently or with malign intent, and does not merit dismissal.

[Denis Keefe @DenisKeefe]

@b_judah It's the system in lots of C/E Europe. Saves so much time

[Denis Keefe @DenisKeefe]

@JohnAlty1 All one queue in the end for physical passport checks, but lots of people milling before you can see the signs that show how to bypass the kiosks

[Michael McFaul @McFaul]

Could not agree more:

[Denis Keefe @DenisKeefe]

Anyone still remember the Revolution in Military Affairs? Plus ça change ...

[UK in Serbia @ukinserbia]

#Крагујевац је увек имао важну улогу у историји односа између 🇬🇧 и 🇷🇸. Ту је пуковник Хоџис, као први британски изасланик у #Србија 1837. кнезу Милошу Обреновићу предао своје акредитиве, а др Елизабет Рос је током #WW1 водила једну од Болница шкотских жена.

[Kate Keefe @SingenBingen]

Have you lit a candle for anyone recently? Sometimes it feels like the right thing to do, and on Wednesday I needed three. Here's my latest for @The_Tablet , with congratulations and loving prayers for the new Archbishop of Canterbury.
https://t.co/XL36WyDdMT

[Nigel Baker @NigelMBaker1]

On this feast of the Annunciation, it is worth remembering that the Archangel Gabriel, “God’s Messenger”, is the patron saint of diplomats. At this difficult moment in world affairs, his inspiration is all the more important for those of us in this profession dedicated to peace.