AGM elects Rt Hon Karen Bradley MP as new BGIPU Chair for 2022/23
The Annual General Meeting of the British Group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union was convened on Wednesday 30 November in the IPU Room at the Palace of Westminster to adopt the 2022 Annual Report and elect the Executive Committee for 2022/23.
The AGM was presided over by the Speaker of the House of Commons, The Rt Hon Sir Lindsay Hoyle MP in his capacity as Honorary President of the Group. The Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Americas and Caribbean in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, David Rutley MP, proposed adoption of the 2022 Annual Report which was seconded by the Shadow Minister for Europe and the Americas, Stephen Doughty MP, prior to adoption by the AGM.
Following the 2021/22 financial report from the outgoing Treasurer, Alex Sobel MP, and agreement to re-appoint Kreston Reeves LLP as external auditors, a new Executive Committee for 2022/23 was elected including Rt Hon Karen Bradley MP as Chair.
The Speaker of the House of Commons also moved a vote of thanks in the outgoing Chair, Harriett Baldwin MP, noting her achievements as Chair, particularly leading BGIPU through the disruptions of the global pandemic which saw much of its activity occur virtually and since the resumption of travel lead UK delegations to the 143rd, 144th and 145th IPU Assemblies in Madrid, Nusa Dua and Kigali respectively.
Beyond Ms Baldwin’s strong promotion of the values and principles of multilateralism as meetings resumed after the pandemic, the Speaker recalled her resolute leadership during challenging times in strongly defending Ukraine in the face of Russia’s illegal and illegitimate war and working tirelessly to lobby for the return of the US Congress to IPU membership. Further details of the new BGIPU Executive Committee for 2022/23 and the 2022 Annual Report can be found on our Governance page.
Rt Hon Karen Bradley MP was elected new BGIPU Chair on 30 November 2022.
Rt Hon Karen Bradley MP has led a number of recent UK delegations to Greece and Finland and attended recent IPU Assemblies in Madrid and Nusa Dua.
Outgoing Chair Harriett Baldwin MP spoke at the AGM where tributes were paid to her leadership since election to the position of Chair in 2020.
