With COVID-19 and Brexit exerting considerable forces on Britain's standard national interests and views of the world, it would be interesting to see how the FCO viewed the current world in order of prioritisation.

One possible way to achieve this would be through JESP score system (Assuming the system is still in place. As a Whitehall outsider it is difficult assess).

This is a very brief, top soil level summary of the JESP scores of 2006.

As of 2006, the JESP - or 'Job Evaluation Senior Posts' was a system which scored senior FCO appointments from 8 to 28.

It should be noted that a similar system existed for operational grades, called JEGS (Job Evaluation General Service)

The highest scores were of course reserved for the Permanent Under-Secretary and the Head of the Diplomatic Service. Their grading was made by Cabinet Office assessment which determined the rankings of all PUS' in Whitehall.

Simon McDonald holds both ranks as of 2020

Next came the Top Ten posts, or the Grade One Ambassador jobs. As of 2006 many still assumed it was the Washington job, which wasn't true. In fact the highest of the Grade Ones was the UKREP, the British Ambassador heading the UK delegation to the EU with a grade of 25.

This is currently held by Sir Tim Barrow

Next with a grade of 24 was the British Ambassador to Washington, reflecting that whilst the 'Special Relationship' was still seen to exist, it wasn't considered as important in the post Cold War space.

The current incumbent for this post is Dame Karen Pierce

The next two of the Grade Ones were Paris and Berlin, both with a JESP score of 23. Possibly a reflection of the greater importance attached to influence in Europe.

These posts are currently held by Baron Edward David Gerard Llewellyn in Paris

and Sir Sebastian Wood in Berlin

Following France and Germany were the postings in Moscow and Delhi, both with JESP scores of 22.

Moscow's incumbent is refreshingly another woman with Deborah Bronnert.

Delhi's post is currently held by Sir Dominic Asquith (very much related to the famous name).

Also at 22 (as of 2006) was the British post in Beijing. Currently held by Dame Barbara Woodward.

Following these in score were Tokyo, NATO and New York. Interestingly the JESP scores as of 2006 aren't given in the source but these posts were all listed alongside Beijing, suggesting 22 is the ballpark figure.

The postings currently:

Tokyo - Paul Madden

NATO - Sarah MacIntosh

New York (UN) - is currently empty with Karen Pierce leaving for Washington. However Jonathan Allen fills the role as Deputy.

Remember the scores stated are from 2006 and the postings scores' are usually reevaluated every time a new incumbent is about to take office.

The methodology was revised four times after its inception in 1994 (1997, 2003, 2007 and 2013-14).

As noted in the most recent document, this system is still predominantly pay based, however it arguably reflects the FCO's thinking regarding the importance and responsibilities of said postings: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/job-evaluation-for-senior-posts-good-practice-guide

"The main purpose of JESP is to provide a fair and consistent approach to arriving at SCS pay banding decisions. This guidance is intended to help JESP users in achieving this. It draws on the experiences of departmental and central practitioners."

Ultimately the system may have changed since 2014, an occupational hazard of trying to used applied history to assess current Whitehall procedures and thinking.

That being said, it would truly be interesting to see what the JESP scores are today, or the equivalent system.

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