The House of Lords International Relations
Committee welcomes the Government’s hosting of the Commonwealth
Heads of Government Meeting in London in April this year. The
Committee urges the Government to maximize the opportunities
offered by the occasion, to bolster relations with Commonwealth
countries ahead of Brexit and to raise concerns over
discriminatory laws.
The Committee met with Government officials,
Tim Hitchens (Chief Executive of the Commonwealth Summit Unit,
Cabinet Office) and Richard Oppenheim (UK Commonwealth Envoy,
Foreign and Commonwealth Office), to discuss preparations and
priorities. The Committee welcomes the renewed commitment to the
Commonwealth which the preparations for the Summit imply.
However, the Government should be clearer about the potential
benefits and new business opportunities, for the UK and other
members states, which greater engagement with the Commonwealth
could provide. During its term as Chair-in-Office of the
Commonwealth following the Summit, the Government must ensure
commitments made at the meeting are delivered and positive
outcomes are achieved. The Committee also expressed the hope that
countries which had left the Commonwealth—the Maldives, The
Gambia and Zimbabwe—might re-join.
Chairman of the Committee
said:
“Britain must re-shape its
international relations in changed world circumstances,
regardless of Brexit. This meeting is the perfect opportunity to
reinvigorate relations with Commonwealth members, and strengthen
our diplomatic, trade, defence and security ties across the
network.
“We were pleased to hear of the
Government’s clear commitments to the meeting and look forward to
the positive outcomes it is set to
deliver.”
