The House | The Commonwealth can be a democratic buffer against rising authoritarianism

3 min read22 January

The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) UK branch has been working at the heart of Parliament to strengthen relationships between Commonwealth parliaments since 1911. I hope that most parliamentarians have taken part in programmes organised by the branch, met visiting delegations or even joined an overseas delegation themselves.

I’m delighted to have been serving as chair of the UK branch for over a year now, since being elected towards the end of 2024. I am committed to helping steer our work, making us a relevant and useful resource for parliamentarians, and championing the work that we do. As the child of Nigerian immigrants who were invited to the UK in the 1960s, post-Second World War, to help rebuild the country, I am proud to be a voice for those whose close connections to the Commonwealth are core to their very identity.

While we are seeing anti-immigrant sentiment on the rise, we must affirm that migration over many decades from west Africa, the Caribbean, south Asia and many more places is a real strength. The world is changing, with the relative power of Europe and the West on the decline and with the influence of countries in the Global South such as India and Nigeria on the rise and only set to become more significant during this century. The global nature of our population is an advantage for the UK to ensure that we can secure serious engagement with countries around the world.

We must tap into the expertise of Commonwealth partners, drawing on their understanding of trade opportunities, economic challenges, and issues related to democracy and security. Peer-to-peer learning between parliamentarians is central to this approach. Sharing experiences and best practices strengthens governance and builds trust across borders.

With the CPA firmly committed to democracy, the rule of law and human rights, we help promote these values by working alongside other groups based in over 60 countries and jurisdictions across the Commonwealth. We are seeing a resurgent global authoritarianism with significant influence from China and Russia who are engaging across the world, and we must seek to match these efforts in our own way.

Contrary to common assumptions, the Commonwealth is not a static group of countries but an evolving partnership committed to innovation and inclusivity. This openness reflects a shared desire to strengthen relationships, foster mutual understanding, and build a more connected global community.

Despite arguments from some quarters that delivering Brexit would be the start of a new era of engagement, the perception of disengagement persists among many Commonwealth countries. We must change this, and it can start at the parliamentary level with bilateral engagement through the CPA. Personal ties are central to politics, and the importance of delegations meeting fellow parliamentarians in finding areas of mutual interest cannot be underestimated, nor can the soft power of welcoming delegations of parliamentarians to London a world-class city with so much to offer and Westminster, a world-famous historical treasure of a parliament.

Our branch is reliant on funding from parliamentary authorities in the House of Commons and House of Lords, as well as project funding from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. At a time of funding constraints across government, the sustainability of the breadth of our work has shown that the CPA can pivot and continue to deliver programmes that best suit our Commonwealth family. However, I believe that ensuring continued commitment to the work of CPA UK, as well as innovating, is a central part of ensuring that the UK punches above its weight in the 21st century.