UNITED KINGDOM
change in the modern world. In particular he talked about the
which celebrate diversity while sharing history and traditions; we share a culture but have many cultural differences. However, those differences must not be allowed to override our shared respect for human rights.” She went on to question
Rt Hon. Baroness Royall of Blaisdon
need to focus on trade with the Commonwealth, building on and strengthening “our shared principles of democracy, the rule of law, good governance and our similar legal systems”. He concluded by reiterating the United Kingdom’s commitment to the Commonwealth and looked ahead to the Commonwealth Games, to be held in Glasgow in 2014. Speaking for the Opposition in the Lords, the Shadow Leader of the House of Lords, Rt Hon. Baroness Royall of Blaisdon (Lab), welcomed the Charter as providing the opportunity for radical reform: “The Charter provides an opportunity for the Commonwealth to restate its role in a fast-changing world, but for that opportunity to be truly grasped, the core values and principles have to be adhered to. It is a voluntary association of independent, sovereign states
why, in the 21st century “the Commonwealth still tolerates not only the criminalization of homosexuality in many Commonwealth countries” but also the provision of the death penalty for homosexual acts in some countries. Speaking in the Commons debate on the same theme, Ms Kerry McCarthy, MP, (Lab), welcomed statements made by Caribbean leaders against discrimination against homosexuals and the statements in the Charter about gender equality, but pressed
spoke of “the Commonwealth as a collective organization, supporting, encouraging, offering up advocacy of the right course of events, underlines to me the extent of the value of the
to human rights. Views varied as to whether the U.K. government should attend the meeting, with several Members citing the Foreign Affairs Select Committee’s view that the Prime Minister should not attend unless there were “convincing and independently-verified evidence of substantial and sustainable improvements in human and political rights in Sri Lanka”. At the time of the debates, no decision had been taken. However, the government subsequently announced that the Prime Minister would be attending CHOGM.
Ms Kerry McCarthy, MP
Royal Charter on Press Regulation
Commonwealth declaration today”. Mr Henry Bellingham, MP, (Con), former Minister for Africa and the Overseas Territories, told the Commons that Commonwealth GDP would overtake European Union GDP by 2015 and dwelt on the links between Commonwealth countries and the Overseas territories.
Members of both Houses
Rt Hon. Lord Howell of Guildford
the Government on what more it would do to pursue these agendas.
Rt Hon. Lord Howe of Aberavon
Both debates included contributions from former Ministers. In the House of Lords, the former Minister for the Commonwealth, Rt Hon. Lord Howell of Guildford (Con), described the Commonwealth as a “family”. He spoke of a “practical vision” of the United Kingdom’s future prosperity and destiny lying in the ready-made networks and commonalities between Commonwealth countries. The former Foreign Secretary, Rt Hon. Lord Howe of Aberavon (Con),
raised areas where they thought Commonwealth countries could do more to live up to the values of the Charter. The former Archbishop of Canterbury, Lord Williams of Oystermouth (Cross- Bench), questioned whether visa requirements in relation to students and eminent people visiting the United Kingdom from Commonwealth countries were too stringent, arguing that “current situation maximises the possibilities of embarrassment and unfairness”. Whist Members such as Mr Simon Hughes MP, (Liberal Democrat), Mr Mike Gapes, MP, (Labour) and the Earl of Sandwich (Cross-bench) expressed concern that the holding of the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting (CHOGM) in Sri Lanka could undermine the perception of the Commonwealth’s commitment
On 18 March the Prime Minister made an application for an emergency debate in the House of Commons under Standing Order 24. The Standing Order, usually used by backbench Members to force debates on urgent matters or to raise urgent constituency concerns, was invoked to allow the House to debate a cross-party agreement on press regulation that had been reached over the weekend.
Mr Simon Hughes, MP Press regulation had been
a source of controversy in both Houses since the publication of Lord Justice Leveson’s report on the subject in November 2012. In the months leading up to 18 March, Peers had forced the issued by inserting amendments – tabled by the Labour Peer Lord
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