Is this you? As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.
Claim your profile
Articles by Nigel Walker
Conference from the other side of the barrier
Four conference ago, I walked into Liberal Democrat conference as a delegate. I arrived on my own, not knowing many people and not really knowing what to expect. This year’s conference has now come to an end. It was my fourth conference overall and my third time stewarding, so I thought it was a good opportunity to reflect on what conference looks like from the other side of the barrier. When you attend as a delegate, you naturally see the debates, speeches, motions and fringe events.
UK–Bermuda relations and the visit of King Charles III 2026
The King and Queen’s visit will mark the King’s first visit as monarch to a UK Overseas Territory (OT). The visit will follow his state visit to the United States of America. Andrew Murdoch, the UK-appointed Governor of Bermuda, described the visit as “an opportunity to celebrate […] Bermudians” and “strengthen the UK’s modern partnership with Bermuda”.
VE Day and VJ Day: Commemorations for the 80th anniversaries
Victory in Europe (VE Day), which takes place on 8 May, marks the Allied victory in Europe, while Victory over Japan (VJ Day), on 15 August, marks the end of the war in the Far East.
International Men's Day 2024
International Men’s Day is celebrated annually on 19 November. This iteration of the day was formally inaugurated by a lecturer, Dr Jerome Teelucksingh, in Trinidad and Tobago on 19 November 1999. In a podcast interview on 21 October 2020 podcast Dr Teelucksingh suggested the need to “promote positive male role models” was his main motivation for founding the day. He also said it should not be viewed as being in opposition to International Women’s Day.
Austria: 2024 federal election
Nine parties are contesting fielding candidates in all constituencies, with a further three parties standing in specific provinces. The right-wing Freedom Party of Austria is leading the polls ahead of election day, with its leader, Herbert Kickl, campaigning under the slogan: “Fortress Austria — closing borders, guaranteeing security.” The key issues viewed as important by voters in the run-up to the election are the rising cost of living and immigration.
The NATO Parliamentary Assembly and UK delegations
NATO Parliamentary Assembly in brief 68 years ago – on 18 July 1955 – 158 parliamentarians from 14 NATO nations attended a six-day meeting at NATO headquarters in Paris. This first “Conference of Members of Parliament from the NATO Countries” soon became the “NATO Parliamentarians’ Conference”. In 1966 delegates at the 12th Conference unanimously agreed to rename the organisation the “North Atlantic Assembly”.
Argentina: 2023 presidential election and future relations with the UK
Argentina’s 2023 election marked 40 years since the return to democracy in Argentina. The PASO primaries (Open, Simultaneous, and Obligatory Primaries) took place on 13 August, the first key date in the 2023 electoral calendar. The primaries were used to select the final candidates for coalitions and allowed voters to give an early indication of their preferences.
House of Commons Library
Total external debt Levels of debt in developing countries in Africa have varied over recent years. As the chart below shows, nominal levels of debt in both sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East and North Africa began to sharply increase in the early 2000s, and the rate has not slowed in recent years. As we explain in the Commons Library’s research briefing Debt relief for low-income countries, debt is not necessarily a bad thing in and of itself, and can help with economic development.
Madagascar: 2023 presidential election and relations with the UK
13 candidates are contesting the Malagasy election, including the current, and former, presidents. The country is hoping for its third peaceful election since the political crisis of 2009, when Andry Rajoelina ousted then President Marc Ravalomanana in a coup backed by the army. The 2023 election comes at a time of unprecedented socio-political and economic tension, with Madagascar having faced several natural disasters and difficult economic and social conditions since the previous election.
Slovakia: 2023 general election and formation of a new coalition government
On 15 December 2022 the ruling coalition government in Slovakia lost a vote of confidence. Its replacement caretaker government – with the fourth prime minister in five years – then lost a no confidence vote, but was allowed to remain in office with limited powers until early elections could be held on 30 September 2023.
UN Sustainable Development Goals
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) The Sustainable Development Goals were launched in 2015 and apply to all UN member states, including the UK. There are 17 goals intended to be met by 2030, including ending poverty in all its forms everywhere and achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls. In July 2023, the UN issued a progress report on the SDGs. It warned that progress on most goals has stalled, and, in some cases, gone into reverse.
House of Commons Library
Foreign relations In its 2021 Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy (Integrated Review), the Government said it will “deepen our ties with Brazil and Mexico, strengthening [our] partnerships on trade, innovation, climate, security and development”.
Conflict in Ukraine: A timeline (2014 - eve of 2022 invasion)
The current conflict in Ukraine began on 24 February 2022 when Russian military forces entered the country from Belarus, Russia and Crimea. Prior to the invasion, there had already been eight years of conflict in eastern Ukraine between Ukrainian Government forces and Russia-backed separatists. This paper provides a timeline of the major events that happened in the conflict in Ukraine from the 2014 annexation of Crimea to the eve of the 2022 Russian invasion.
WRU boss says Wales coach Warren Gatland ‘one of the best in the world’
New Zealander Gatland is eight months into his second stint as Wales head coach after replacing Wayne Pivac and he is preparing for a fourth World Cup at the helm during September and October, having masterminded semi-final appearances in 2011 and 2019. Wales finished fifth in the Guinness Six Nations last season, while Gatland inherited a squad that lost nine out of 12 Tests last year. “The contract was a five-year contract.
Conflict in Ukraine: A parliamentary reading list (2014 - present)
In November 2013 the Ukrainian government of pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych, decided not to sign a planned Association Agreement with the European Union and demonstrations ensued in the capital Kyiv. The ‘Euromaidan’ demonstrations turned violent in early 2014 and, in February that year, some European foreign ministers mediated a compromise, involving a unity government and early elections.
Sierra Leone: 2023 presidential election and international reaction
The election was regarded by some international observers as a litmus test for West Africa’s democratic resilience. 13 candidates contested the presidential election, although the two largest opposition parties, the National Grand Coalition (NGC) and the Coalition for Change (C4C) did not field presidential candidates in 2023.
House of Commons Library
Ministerial visits 2023 will mark 60 years since Mongolia and the UK established diplomatic relations. There have been several visits by politicians from both countries in the last few years. The then Minister for Asia, Amanda Milling MP, spent two days visiting Mongolia in May 2022, stating she had held “productive discussions on a range of bilateral and international issues and look(ed) forward to strengthening our relationship with Mongolia even further”.
The role and status of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association
What is the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association? The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) was founded in 1911 and brings together parliamentarians and public officials from across the Commonwealth to promote and strengthen parliamentary democracy (PDF). As of 2021, the CPA is constituted of over 180 legislatures in 53 Commonwealth countries, and functions at both the national and local level. It supports an estimated 17,000 parliamentarians and parliamentary staff (PDF).
Thailand: 2023 general election and possible outcomes
On 17 March 2023 the King of Thailand issued a royal decree on the dissolution of parliament, paving the way for a general election to be held on 14 May. 70 political parties contested the election, with Thailand’s Election Commission reporting a total of 6,679 candidates applying to contest the 500 seats in the House of Representatives. There were 63 prime ministerial candidates nominated by 43 political parties, with the law allowing up to three candidates per party.
House of Commons Library
Disaster On 5 November 2015 the Fundão Dam near the city of Mariana in Southeast Brazil collapsed, unleashing 60 million cubic meters of iron ore waste and mud (called tailings), the by-products of iron ore mining operations in the area. 19 people were killed in the aftermath, and the incident has been described as “the worst environmental disaster in Brazilian history”. Around 600 people lost their homes.
WRU member clubs vote overwhelmingly in favour of governance reforms
The WRU will now appoint an independent non-executive director (INED) as chair and recruit two further new INEDs to its 12-person board, doubling the total number of independent representatives to six, with the overall aspiration to ensure at least five directors are women.
Waterford News & Star - Warren Gatland will not support player strike despite supporting cause
Gatland’s comments came after the Welsh Rugby Players’ Association said “players have had enough”… Gatland insists he supports his squad’s cause amid an ongoing dispute caused by Welsh rugby’s professional contracts freeze, but would not agree if the opted to boycott the game at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium a week on Saturday.” Negotiations Negotiations on the future of the professional game in Wales are handled by the Professional Rugby Board (PRB), which comprises representatives from...
Who's Left to Acquire in CDMO Biomanufacturing? A Select Few.
Publicly funded biotechs have experienced drastic reductions in market value in recent months, while private companies continue to attract financing and are in-licensing technologies and expanding staff. With the slower economy, companies are often expected to drop early-stage projects to focus on more advanced lead candidates. These changes will impact demand for CDMO services beginning in late 2022.
Why the Big Shifts in Gene Therapy Investments? It’s Late in the Game
For everyone, entering the market late carries a price. Biopharma market dynamics have shifted focus from fermentation and cell culture to plasmids and viral vectors. There are few assets to buy, and only large-cap private equity (PE) firms and strategic buyers can afford the outlandishly high multiples they come with.
UK Government recognition of the State of Palestine alongside the State of Israel
UK Government position: Non recognition In October 2014, the House of Commons voted in favour of the following: That this House believes that the Government should recognise the state of Palestine alongside the state of Israel, as a contribution to securing a negotiated two state solution. This vote was not binding on the Government. The UK Government has not recognised this statehood, and abstained in the UN General Assembly vote that granted Palestine non-member observer status at the UN.
Portugal: 2022 general election
On 5 November 2021 President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa approved the dissolution of parliament and called for a general election to be held on 30 January 2022. This followed the rejection of his budget by the parliament. Two political parties dominate the political scene in Portugal: the centre-left Socialist Party and the centre-right Social Democratic Party.
Atrocities against the Yazidi religious community
The Yazidis are a religious minority, primarily residing in northern Iraq. In August 2014, they were attacked by Islamic State (IS), who then controlled significant amounts of territory in Iraq and Syria. In addition to attacks against the Yazidis, IS also targeted Christians, Turkmen, Shabaks, and other minorities. In 2016 a UN human rights panel and the US Secretary of State, John Kerry, described IS actions against the Yazidis as constituting genocide.
Humanitarian and political situation in Ethiopia
Ongoing conflict in northern Ethiopia and severe drought in the southeast mean millions of people are in need of humanitarian assistance. The World Food Programme estimates 9.4 million people are in “dire need of food assistance” in the north. While at least 6 million people will need life-saving assistance in eastern and southern Ethiopia because of drought, according to UNOCHA.
House of Commons Library
The West’s relationship with Russia is often described as one characterised by misconception and misunderstanding of each other. In July 2021 President Vladimir Putin approved Russia’s latest National Security Strategy, which set out Russia’s national interests and strategic priorities for the next five years.
Securing a veterinary agreement in the Northern Ireland Protocol
The Northern Ireland Protocol (the Protocol) is an integral part of the UK-EU Withdrawal Agreement which regulated how the UK’s exit from the EU would work. The Protocol sets out Northern Ireland’s post-Brexit relationship with both the EU and Great Britain (the rest of the UK). The Protocol maintains an open border between Northern Ireland and Ireland, but as part of this arrangement requires checks on the entry of goods from Great Britain to Northern Ireland.
2021 Tokyo Nutrition for Growth summit
Proscribed Terrorist Organisations This paper examines the regime for proscribing organisations under the Terrorism Act 2000. It explains the criteria that must be met for proscription, the associated criminal offences, and the process for deproscription. It also considers recently proscribed organisations, and some criticisms of the regime. Crime Defence Institutions Security
Roadmap to peace in Palestine
The Roadmap to Peace The 2003 Roadmap to Peace was drafted by ‘the Quartet’ (the US, the UN, Russia and the EU). Similar to the Oslo process it envisaged transitional arrangements and negotiations leading to a permanent-status agreement by a set date. It also required certain steps to be taken by both sides. Its ultimate objective was a two-state solution.
Proposal for an inquiry into the UK’s involvement in the NATO-led mission to Afghanistan
In the aftermath of 9/11, the United States led a coalition of the willing into Afghanistan to conduct counterterrorism operations (Operation Enduring Freedom). British forces were part of that initial military action, considered self-defence under the UN Charter (Operation Veritas).
Humanitarian situation in Ethiopia, Sudan and Tigray
The Queen’s Speech in May 2021 announced a new bill to provide the security services with the tools they need to tackle the threat from hostile activity by states. The Government subsequently published a consultation on proposals for legislation to counter state threats which closed in July 2021. This briefing paper examines the background to these proposals and concerns about the implications for press freedom.
International affairs and defence: Parliamentary debates and statements in the 2021-22 session
The paper is divided into two main sections: geographic regions – covering areas such as the Middle East and China; and themes – including areas such as defence and human rights. The coloured panel on the left of each entry indicates in which Chamber the debate or statement took place: green for House of Commons and red for House of Lords.
Estimates Day debate: Official Development Assistance and the British Council
The topics were proposed by the Chair of the International Development Committee, Sarah Champion MP (Official Development Assistance spending) and the Chair of the APPG on the British Council, John Baron MP (British Council). The Estimates Day debate is expected to focus on the Government’s reduction in aid spending in 2021, and funding to the British Council. Many of the Council’s programmes have been affected by the pandemic, causing a reduction in income.
EU Review into Palestinian school textbooks
The Palestinian school curriculum In March 2020, there was a Westminster Hall debate on Radicalisation in the Palestinian school curriculum. That debate arose after the Palestinian Authority (PA) started revising its primary and secondary school curricula in 2017. There followed reports that the new textbooks promote radicalisation and that examples of incitement litter Palestinian textbooks.
E-petitions relating to Israel and Palestine
Recognition of the “State of Palestine” Recognition is the act of one state formally or informally recognising an entity as a state. Recognition can also refer to the recognition of a government or representatives of a state as the legitimate or lawful representative of that state and its peoples. At the United Nations, the Permanent Observer Mission of the State of Palestine to the United Nations lists the states that have recognised the State of Palestine.
An Unnatural Phenomenon: How Synthetic Biology May Disrupt Pharma and Beyond
Traditional small molecule drug discovery has dominated pharmaceutical R&D for more than a century, but the field has become increasingly more challenging as novel, efficacious applications for universally effective therapeutics have been nearly exhausted.1 As the world’s population continues to increase, along with the number of patients with documented diseases, the drive for precision medicine is even more urgent.
Syria: 2021 presidential election and future prospects
51 candidates had expressed an intention to contest the election, but Syria’s Supreme Constitutional Court permitted just three candidates to stand: incumbent President Bashar al-Assad; Abdullah Salloum Abdullah, a former Cabinet Minister; and Mahmoud Ahmad Mari, the head of a Syria-based opposition party. President Assad dominated the election campaign, which many opposition figures claimed was a sham.
Israel: 2021 parliamentary election and new coalition government
Israel’s election, to elect members of the Knesset, was the fourth election in two years and came less than a year since the swearing-in of the “unity government” in May 2020. 37 political parties and factions contested the election and 13 went on to win at least one of the 120 seats in the chamber. The election campaign was low key and largely seen as a referendum on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s leadership.
UN International Day of Education
Sustainable Development Goal 4 In 2015 the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were agreed, with Goal 4 addressing global education. One of the central aims of the SDGs is to “leave no one behind”. To achieve this in education will require a substantial increase in finance, access and quality. UNESCO states that globally, education funding remains substantially below the target level that would be required to meet the ambition of SDG4.
Brexit timeline: events leading to the UK’s exit from the European Union
In a referendum held on 23 June 2016, the majority of those who voted chose to leave the European Union. On 29 March 2017, in writing to European Council President Donald Tusk, the Prime Minister formally triggered Article 50 and began the two-year countdown to the UK formally leaving the EU (commonly known as ‘Brexit’). The UK had long been expected to leave the European Union at 11pm on 29 March 2019.
Road to 2021 Day 2: Wales, Ireland, and Northern Ireland
The second day on the Road to 2021 started bright and early in Dublin, Ireland, after an early morning ferry trip from Hollyhead, Wales. We saw some of the sights of this great city, including the Guiness Brewery, Trinity College and Merrion Square Park. On our travels across the Emerald Isle, we met three companies – Hogan Healthcare, ACGT Vector, and ChainbridgePharma.
Trip Kickoff at Home House in Kensington, London
Day 00 /// England September 26-27, 2020 On the first official/unofficial day of the trip, there was excitement in the air. Though England had been locked down not long before, the most oppressive restrictions were presently lifted. There was the sense of an artificial celebration going on in the streets, as many relished their time together before the emergence of a possible second wave.
A Day Of Serious Driving Across Germany And Into Denmark
Day 06 /// The Netherlands, Germany and Denmark October 3, 2020 Two Speeding Tickets (Top speed: 135 MPH): Holland Day six started early, as we departed Amsterdam before the sun had fully risen, capturing some great photos and footage of windmills, locks, waterways, and bridges before embarking on our first really big day of driving from a mileage perspective, which would ultimately take us across 715 miles from Amsterdam to Copenhagen, Denmark, passing across northern Germany on an...
Police Encounter and Soviet Aircraft
Day 10 /// Latvia and Lithuania October 7, 2020 Favorite Healthcare Image of the Trip: Latvia Day 10 began with the team exploring the beautiful 13th century city of Riga, with its art nouveau architecture and 19th century wooden buildings. One thing that caught our attention was an enormous monument outside of a medical museum depicting a nurse in a white medical gown with a stethoscope and a face mask, which struck us as particularly poignant in these uncertain times.
Heavy Rain and Nobel Prizes
Day 07 /// Denmark and Sweden October 4, 2020 Sunday morning welcome from Morten: Denmark Sunday began with more heavy rain (a running theme!), as we piled into the Minis for about an hour’s drive to meet with Morten Munk at the FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies facility in Hillerød. The weather turned out to be so uncooperative that we conducted one of our few indoor interviews.
The Future Of Personalized Medicine In Luxembourg
Day 23 /// France and Luxembourg October 20, 2020 Most Impressive Healthcare Vision of the Trip: Luxembourg While still in Luxembourg and noticing many similarities to our time in Switzerland, we met with Anna Chioti, Head of Pharmacy and Medicines at Luxembourg Health Directorate — Direction de la Santé, who confirmed similarities between the two wealthy countries’ healthcare systems.
Setting Off On The Road To 2021
Day 01 /// England and Wales September 28, 2020 Toughest Sequence of Days of the Trip: Days 1–3 Favorite Healthcare Worker of the Trip: Laura Thomas With considerable excitement, we hit the road for our first leg of travel.
Show More
loading
Actions
Is this you?
As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.Get in touch with Nigel
Contact Nigel, search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.
Learn more about Muck Rack