Building UK's resilience to crises: what is the role of the media? - Lords committee to ask expert witnesses

Monday, 20 April 2026 08:37

The House of Lords National Resilience Committee will hear from media experts and voluntary organisations as part of its inquiry into how well the UK is equipped to cope with crises. At 10.30am on Thursday 23 April 2026, the Committee will hear from: Deborah Haynes, Journalist (Security and Defence Editor), Sky News Edward Lucas, Senior Fellow, Centre for European Policy Analyst Elisabeth Braw, Senior Fellow, Atlantic Council Questions likely to be...Request free trial

The House of Lords National Resilience Committee will hear from media experts and voluntary organisations as part of its inquiry into how well the UK is equipped to cope with crises.

At 10.30am on Thursday 23 April 2026, the Committee will hear from:

Deborah Haynes, Journalist (Security and Defence Editor), Sky News
Edward Lucas, Senior Fellow, Centre for European Policy Analyst
Elisabeth Braw, Senior Fellow, Atlantic Council

Questions likely to be raised include:

What role should the media play in building national resilience, for example through identifying risks early, sustaining public attention or scrutinising government?

How can messaging on preparedness and resilience, both from the Government and the media, communicate urgency without causing unnecessary alarm?

Without a direct military threat to the UK, how can the public be encouraged to develop the same level of preparation and resilience as in the Nordic countries?

Then at 11.30am, the Committee will hear evidence from:

Emily Morrison, Director of Sustainability, The Young Foundation
Dr Carolyn Otley, Board member, VCS Emergencies Partnership
James Lynch, Major Donor Manager, Salvation Army
Lieutenant-General Sir Charles Stickland KCB OBE, Chair, Re:act

Questions are likely to focus on:

How can community preparedness and resilience be improved through training and education, including among young people?

How far can independent faiths play a role in enhancing multi-faith, community resilience?

To what extent does the Government engage with, co-ordinate, resource and support the voluntary, community, and faith sector concerning preparedness and resilience?

The Lords National Resilience Committee is assessing geopolitical, economic and technological threats and examining how the the UK might best prepare for, and respond to, national crises and disruptions.

It has already heard that resilience cannot be viewed narrowly as an emergency response capability, and is looking at several areas such as energy networks, vulnerabilities in digital infrastructure, disinformation and other threats - and how closer cooperation between government, public and private sectors could mitigate risks. .

The session on Thursday forms part of an inquiry that will report in November 2026. It can be followed live in Committee Room 2, or live or later here on Parliament TV.