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PARLIAMENTARY REPORT


UNITED KINGDOM


COMMONWEALTH DAY AND THE COMMONWEALTH CHARTER


On 11 March, Commonwealth Day, the Her Majesty The Queen signed the Commonwealth Charter. In Westminster the occasion was marked by the laying of the Charter before both Houses of Parliament and a debate in each House. The Charter sets out the values of the Commonwealth and was agreed by Heads of Government on 14 December 2012. The House of Commons debate took place in Westminster Hall on 14 March. Rt Hon. Sir Alan Haselhurst, MP, (Conservative), Chair of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association U.K. Braqnch, opened the debate stressing the importance of the


Lord Wallace of Saltaire Rt Hon. Sir Alan Haselhurst, MP


Commonwealth’s voluntary nature and of its young people: “The modern Commonwealth is not a British Commonwealth; it is the Commonwealth of nations, in which there should, indeed, be parity of esteem. It is an example of countries slowly edging together, towards wider circles of understanding and


140 | The Parliamentarian | 2013: Issue Two


co-operation, beginning to see that there are opportunities that were perhaps not recognized 10, 20 or 30 years ago. The Commonwealth embraces one third of the world’s population, and half of the population of the Commonwealth is under 25. We should be particularly concerned about that young section. The Commonwealth must have meaning for them.” The House of Lords debate took place a week earlier on 7 March. The Government Spokesman, Lord Wallace of Saltaire (Liberal Democrat), opened the debate by telling the House: “A strong Commonwealth is important to the national interests of all its member states. It can help us to promote democratic values, good governance and prosperity. This is no longer the British Commonwealth but a network of like-minded nations with shared history, values and interests within which the U.K. plays an active and leading role.” He talked of the values of the


Charter and of the importance of ensuring that they are respected by all Members. In particular he dwelt on the need for reform of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) and spoke of the value of the Commonwealth’s “unique network of networks”. These themes were further developed by the Minister for the Commonwealth, Rt Hon. Hugo Swire, MP, (Conservative), in responding to the Commons debate. He praised CMAG’s work in relation to the crisis in the Maldives and spoke of the


Rt Hon. Hugo Swire, MP


need to make its voice stronger. He spoke of the importance of the Charter: “[It is] a major milestone in the promotion of democratic values across the Commonwealth. For the first time in its 64-year history, the Commonwealth has a single statement defining the core values for which it stands.” He also spoke of the need for the Commonwealth to “evolve constantly” to keep pace with


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