NewzVille Desk
Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan today held a cordial and substantive meeting with Lord McFall of Alcluith PC, the Lord Speaker of the House of Lords of the United Kingdom Parliament, at the Parliament House in New Delhi. The interaction took place on the sidelines of the 28th Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth (CSPOC), hosted by India from 14th to 16th January 2026.
Welcoming the Lord Speaker to the Rajya Sabha, the Vice President expressed pleasure at his participation in the conference, noting that his presence underscored the continuing friendship and strong parliamentary ties between the two countries. He highlighted that the visit would be both productive and enjoyable, offering an opportunity to engage closely with India’s parliamentary traditions, culture, and democratic ethos.
During the meeting, the Vice President highlighted the long and complex history shared by India and the United Kingdom, including parliamentary traditions that have evolved over centuries. He noted that India’s parliamentary system has drawn inspiration from the Westminster model while evolving organically to reflect India’s unique democratic framework.
Emphasizing common democratic values, the Vice President underlined the shared commitment of both parliaments to the rule of law, parliamentary privilege, and effective democratic oversight of the executive. In the Indian context, he highlighted the importance of freedom of speech exercised with responsibility, cautioning that it cannot be used for disruptive activities. He added that these common principles form a solid foundation for mutual learning.
The Vice President also stressed the significance of parliamentary diplomacy as a cornerstone of Commonwealth relations and reaffirmed India’s commitment to exchange programs for parliamentary delegations. He highlighted India’s extensive experience in hosting and participating in inter-parliamentary delegations and suggested exploring avenues for joint workshops, training programmes, and knowledge-sharing initiatives.
On digital innovation, the Vice President observed that parliamentary functioning worldwide has been transformed by technology. India has integrated e-parliament systems, live streaming, and digitized records into its operations. He expressed interest in learning from the House of Lords’ experience in implementing digital initiatives, particularly in enhancing accessibility, promoting transparency, and fostering public engagement. He noted that collaboration in leveraging technology could support legislative drafting, facilitate committee deliberations, and encourage citizen participation, benefiting both nations.
The Vice President observed that the Commonwealth provides a unique platform for parliamentarians to share ideas, learn from each other, and uphold democratic standards. He emphasized that presiding officers bear a shared responsibility to ensure parliamentary democracy delivers effectively for all sections of society.
He suggested that India and the United Kingdom could work together to champion key global priorities within parliamentary and multilateral forums. These include promoting women’s political participation, strengthening climate resilience through legislative action, advancing education—particularly higher education as a tool of soft power—and harnessing technology to make governance more inclusive, transparent, and citizen-centric.
Concluding the meeting, the Vice President reaffirmed India’s steadfast commitment to democratic values, which provide a strong foundation for continued engagement between the two countries.
He expressed hope that the visit would further strengthen bilateral ties and inspire joint initiatives serving as a model for the Commonwealth and the world.
