VP Radhakrishnan Meets UK House of Lords Speaker, Reaffirms India–UK Parliamentary Partnership at CSPOC 2026

The Vice President observed that India and the United Kingdom share a long and complex historical association, particularly in parliamentary traditions that have evolved over centuries.

The Hon’ble Vice President of India, Shri C.P. Radhakrishnan, today held a cordial and substantive meeting with Lord McFall of Alcluith PC, Lord Speaker of the House of Lords of the United Kingdom Parliament, at Parliament House, New Delhi, reaffirming the deep-rooted parliamentary ties and shared democratic values between India and the UK.

The interaction took place on the sidelines of the 28th Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth (CSPOC), being hosted by India from 14 to 16 January 2026, bringing together parliamentary leaders from across the Commonwealth.

Strengthening Parliamentary Bonds

Welcoming the Lord Speaker to the Rajya Sabha, the Vice President expressed pleasure at his participation in CSPOC, noting that his presence underscored the enduring friendship and strong institutional linkages between the two democracies. He said the visit offered a valuable opportunity for closer engagement with India’s parliamentary traditions, democratic ethos and cultural heritage.

The Vice President observed that India and the United Kingdom share a long and complex historical association, particularly in parliamentary traditions that have evolved over centuries. He noted that while India’s parliamentary system has drawn inspiration from the Westminster model, it has evolved organically to reflect India’s unique constitutional and democratic framework.

Shared Democratic Values and Responsibilities

Highlighting common democratic principles, Shri Radhakrishnan underlined the shared commitment of both Parliaments to the rule of law, parliamentary privilege and effective oversight of the executive. In the Indian context, he emphasized the importance of freedom of speech exercised with responsibility, cautioning that it must not be misused for disruptive activities within legislatures.

He noted that these shared values provide a strong foundation for mutual learning and cooperation between the two parliamentary institutions.

Parliamentary Diplomacy and Commonwealth Cooperation

The Vice President stressed the importance of parliamentary diplomacy as a cornerstone of Commonwealth relations and reaffirmed India’s commitment to parliamentary exchange programmes. He highlighted India’s active engagement in hosting and participating in inter-parliamentary delegations and suggested exploring joint workshops, training programmes and structured knowledge-sharing initiatives.

Describing the Commonwealth as a unique platform for democratic dialogue, he said presiding officers bear a collective responsibility to ensure parliamentary democracy remains effective, inclusive and responsive to societal needs.

Digital Transformation of Legislatures

Shri Radhakrishnan highlighted how digital innovation has transformed parliamentary functioning globally, noting that India has adopted e-Parliament systems, live streaming of proceedings and digitised records to enhance transparency and accessibility.

Expressing interest in the House of Lords’ experience with digital initiatives, he said collaboration could help both sides leverage technology for legislative drafting, committee work, public engagement and citizen participation, delivering mutual benefits.

Advancing Global Priorities Together

The Vice President suggested that India and the UK could work jointly within parliamentary and multilateral forums to champion key global priorities, including:

• Promotion of women’s political participation

• Strengthening climate resilience through legislative action

• Cooperation in education and higher education as instruments of soft power

• Harnessing technology for transparent, inclusive and citizen-centric governance

A Shared Democratic Future

Concluding the meeting, Shri C.P. Radhakrishnan reaffirmed India’s steadfast commitment to democratic values, expressing confidence that these shared principles would continue to guide and strengthen India–UK parliamentary engagement.

He expressed hope that the visit would deepen institutional collaboration and inspire joint initiatives that could serve as best-practice models for the Commonwealth and the wider world.

Shri Harivansh, Hon’ble Deputy Chairman, Rajya Sabha, was also present during the meeting.