The 2024 General Election was an important moment for the UK; a peaceful transition of power that reminded us of one of democracy’s strengths: its ability to renew itself. We welcomed many new MPs into the House of Commons. With them came new ideas, new energy, and a fresh opportunity to strengthen our democratic institutions.
With the new Labour Government in place, I was honoured to be nominated by the Foreign Secretary as the Chair of Westminster Foundation for Democracy. I have spent most of my life campaigning for justice, equality, and human rights and I have long believed that democracy is not just about what happens on election day. It’s about how power is exercised, who has a voice, and the accountability of leaders to the people they serve. That’s exactly what WFD works to strengthen every day in over 50 countries: supporting parliaments to be more open and inclusive, helping political parties reflect the people they represent, and backing civil society to speak up and be heard.
And this has practical benefits. Strong democracies create better trade and investment environments, are better able to tackle the root causes of instability and violence, deliver more sustained economic growth, and make faster progress on development outcomes. Democracy is a choice for the head and the heart.
Many of us are thinking of those colleagues and communities affected by conflicts in Palestine, Ukraine, Sudan, Myanmar and many others around the world. The scale of suffering, especially the loss of civilian lives, is heartbreaking.
These are deeply human tragedies. They also show us why WFD’s work matters. Supporting dialogue, making sure political systems can serve everyone’s needs and resolve differences without violence, building trust in institutions – these aren’t abstract ideas. They are the foundations of secure, stable, and prosperous societies. Breaking cycles of conflict is slow, difficult work, but it is what WFD does, and it is what so many of our staff have committed ourselves to achieving. I want to say a sincere and profound thank you to all of you, for your dedication, your resilience, and your unwavering belief in the power of democracy to change lives for the better.
We know that democracy is under pressure. Around the world, civic space is shrinking, and many of the freedoms we value most are being rolled back. The need to cut UK Official Development Assistance has made our work harder. But as Lord Collins said recently “we need to listen more, respect others more, and understand that real partnerships are built on equality, not instruction.” I couldn’t agree more. That’s the approach WFD takes: working in partnership, not from a position of superiority, but of solidarity.
What gives me hope is that everywhere WFD works, from North Macedonia to the Philippines, from Uganda to Ukraine, I see people standing up for the values that underpin democratic life: fairness, inclusion, accountability. The WFD team, both in the UK and overseas, brings care, expertise, and real commitment to this work. They understand that change doesn’t happen overnight but that by showing up, listening carefully, and working alongside local partners, we can make progress that lasts.
Democracy is not a finished product. It is something we protect, improve, and pass on to be shaped anew. I’m proud to be part of WFD at a time when that work is more needed than ever.
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Democracy is a choice for the head and the heart
Democracy is a choice for the head and the heart
The 2024 General Election was an important moment for the UK; a peaceful transition of power that reminded us of one of democracy’s strengths: its ability to renew itself. We welcomed many new MPs into the House of Commons. With them came new ideas, new energy, and a fresh opportunity to strengthen our democratic institutions.
With the new Labour Government in place, I was honoured to be nominated by the Foreign Secretary as the Chair of Westminster Foundation for Democracy. I have spent most of my life campaigning for justice, equality, and human rights and I have long believed that democracy is not just about what happens on election day. It’s about how power is exercised, who has a voice, and the accountability of leaders to the people they serve. That’s exactly what WFD works to strengthen every day in over 50 countries: supporting parliaments to be more open and inclusive, helping political parties reflect the people they represent, and backing civil society to speak up and be heard.
And this has practical benefits. Strong democracies create better trade and investment environments, are better able to tackle the root causes of instability and violence, deliver more sustained economic growth, and make faster progress on development outcomes. Democracy is a choice for the head and the heart.
Many of us are thinking of those colleagues and communities affected by conflicts in Palestine, Ukraine, Sudan, Myanmar and many others around the world. The scale of suffering, especially the loss of civilian lives, is heartbreaking.
These are deeply human tragedies. They also show us why WFD’s work matters. Supporting dialogue, making sure political systems can serve everyone’s needs and resolve differences without violence, building trust in institutions – these aren’t abstract ideas. They are the foundations of secure, stable, and prosperous societies. Breaking cycles of conflict is slow, difficult work, but it is what WFD does, and it is what so many of our staff have committed ourselves to achieving. I want to say a sincere and profound thank you to all of you, for your dedication, your resilience, and your unwavering belief in the power of democracy to change lives for the better.
We know that democracy is under pressure. Around the world, civic space is shrinking, and many of the freedoms we value most are being rolled back. The need to cut UK Official Development Assistance has made our work harder. But as Lord Collins said recently “we need to listen more, respect others more, and understand that real partnerships are built on equality, not instruction.” I couldn’t agree more. That’s the approach WFD takes: working in partnership, not from a position of superiority, but of solidarity.
What gives me hope is that everywhere WFD works, from North Macedonia to the Philippines, from Uganda to Ukraine, I see people standing up for the values that underpin democratic life: fairness, inclusion, accountability. The WFD team, both in the UK and overseas, brings care, expertise, and real commitment to this work. They understand that change doesn’t happen overnight but that by showing up, listening carefully, and working alongside local partners, we can make progress that lasts.
Democracy is not a finished product. It is something we protect, improve, and pass on to be shaped anew. I’m proud to be part of WFD at a time when that work is more needed than ever.