Vice President of India Engages with Lord Speaker of UK House of Lords During Historic CSPOC Gathering

On January 16, 2026, the Vice President of India, Shri C.P. Radhakrishnan, held a cordial and substantive meeting with Lord McFall of Alcluith PC, the Lord Speaker of the UK House of Lords of the United Kingdom Parliament, at Parliament House in New Delhi. The high-level engagement took place on the sidelines of the 28th Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth (CSPOC), currently being hosted by India.

Underscoring Parliamentary Partnership

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 nations. The Vice President highlighted the visit as an opportunity to engage closely with India's parliamentary traditions, culture, and democratic ethos, emphasizing that the interaction would prove both productive and enjoyable.

Democratic Values as Foundation

The Vice President reaffirmed India's steadfast and shared commitment to democratic values, citing these principles as a strong foundation for continued engagement between the two countries. This emphasis on common democratic commitments reflected the mutual respect underlying the bilateral relationship between the legislatures of both nations.

Strengthening Commonwealth Bonds

Concluding the meeting, the Vice President expressed the hope that the visit would further strengthen the bonds between India and the United Kingdom, with potential to inspire joint initiatives that could serve as a model for the Commonwealth and beyond. The interaction demonstrated the significance placed on parliamentary diplomacy in advancing bilateral relations.

The 28th CSPOC, being chaired by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Shri Om Birla, brings together 61 Speakers and Presiding Officers representing 42 Commonwealth countries and semi-autonomous parliaments.

The conference, which runs from January 14 to 16, 2026, focuses on contemporary parliamentary challenges including parliamentary democracy, artificial intelligence in legislatures, social media's impact on parliamentarians, and strategies for enhanced public engagement with parliamentary processes.

Shri Harivansh, the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, was present during the meeting.