Outgoing BGIPU Chair expresses thanks for support
Following his appointment as UK Minister of State for Health, the Rt Hon Alistair Burt MP, has stood down from the position of BGIPU Chair. Speaking to the diplomatic community at the joint BGIPU/CPA UK State Opening reception on 27 May, the outgoing Chair expressed thanks for the support of diplomatic missions in London and UK representatives abroad who provide such vital support for the work of inter-parliamentary bodies.
The Minister also expressed gratitude to BGIPU members, particularly colleagues on the Executive Committee, for their support during his time as Chair since December 2013. He warmly acknowledged the work of the BGIPU Secretariat in supporting his role as Chair and facilitating the important work of the organisation for the entire BGIPU membership.
Since his appointement as Chair, Mr Burt has led three UK delegations to IPU Assemblies in Geneva (130th and 131st) and Hanoi (132nd). He also represented the UK Parliament at the 125th anniversary of the IPU held in June 2014 in Geneva and led bilateral delegations to Poland and the United Arab Emirates that year. Mr Burt led the BGIPU during a very active period hosting seven inward delegations visits to Westminster and overseeing ten outward visits to a variety of countries. Mr Burt also chaired the landmark International Parliamentary Seminar on the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) in November 2014 in London.
The post of BGIPU Chair will be filled on an ad interim basis by Mr Ian Liddell-Grainger MP until a Special General Meeting (SGM) is convened to elect a new Chair and fill eight other vacancies created by the outcome of the recent UK General Election. Notification of the SGM will be sent to all BGIPU member shortly.
The BGIPU Chair, Rt Hon Alistair Burt MP speaks at 130th IPU Assembly in Geneva
BGIPU Chair participating in IPU Assembly alongside counterpart from Ukraine
BGIPU Chair addressing 132rd IPU Assembly in Hanoi on terrorism resolution
