The Queen's Speech Commonwealth Highlights

The Queen's Speech to launch the new UK Government's legislative programme took place on Wednesday.

There were a number of highlights for Commonwealth supporters.

Her Majesty said:

"Prince Philip and I look forward to... our state visit to Malta in November, alongside the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting."

Baroness Bottomley moved the motion for the Humble Address following the speech. She began:

"We rejoice that, in September, the Queen becomes the longest-serving sovereign in our history. There will be widespread celebrations in recognition of her extraordinary contribution throughout this country, the Commonwealth and many other lands.

Admiration and affection for the Queen extend far beyond our shores. In November, in her 90th year, she will attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Malta, maintaining her lifelong commitment to the Commonwealth—a central part of her life, of our national history, and of our future."

Our Chairman Lord Howell added:

"In getting alongside these new powers and new markets we will need every conceivable instrument we can find and every advantage we can seize against our competitors. This is where the Commonwealth network, with its own colossal reach, rich markets and capital sources is—or ought to be—immensely valuable to us.

I fear that the people who drafted my own party’s manifesto did not quite understand that emerging markets and the Commonwealth network are all woven together and all part of the same thing. If we want what the gracious Speech refers to as, “an enhanced partnership with India”, for example, this is where it should begin.

The Commonwealth network is the gateway to China and Japan, the second and third largest economies in the world."

Lord Popat followed up saying:

"I am passionate about Africa’s future. Africa and Britain have a great deal in common. This morning, my noble friend Lord Howell mentioned our shared history, language, rule of law, freedom, democracy and, most importantly, the Commonwealth.

The Commonwealth binds us together. We must wake up to Africa’s potential. It is home to the fastest-growing middle class in the world and the population is expected to double by 2045. As has been well-stated, six out of the world’s 10 fastest growing economies are in Africa, with economic growth averaging more than 5% in the continent, which is three times the European growth rate."

Lord Anderson questioned:

"Where has the United Kingdom been in the fight against Boko Haram in Commonwealth Nigeria?"

Our report on Commonwealth security links might be of interest!

Lord Alton commented:

"We should promote the Commonwealth... particularly as an agency for education in parts of the world that will change only with the opportunities of education."

New UK migration figures continue to show mixed picture for Commonwealth

The Office for National Statistics have released their latest figures for UK migration for the period up to December 2014.

As with previous releases, they continue to show a very mixed picture for Commonwealth migration.

The good news is that the number of Commonwealth citizens coming to the UK has increased by 27,000 year on year. However this is still down more than a third on levels seen just eight years ago and still below the figures seen in 2012.

In addition, Commonwealth immigration is still falling behind EU immigration which increased at a much faster rate and is up 33% year on year. It is vital that we move towards a more level playing field so that Britain can attract the best from around the world. The proposals we laid out in our report "How to solve a problem like a visa" would help to rectify this and we urge the UK Government to implement them.

In outward migration the picture is even worse. The number of Brits moving to the Commonwealth fell by 20% and is now at the lowest recorded point in this data set. All of our proposals are based on reciprocity as it is just as vital that Brits are able to move to the Commonwealth as it is for citizens to be able to come here. Clearly that is not currently the case.

Commenting on the proposals, CX Co-Founder and Director Ralph Buckle said:

"While it is great that we are starting to see more Commonwealth citizens coming to the UK, this is working from a very low base after they fell to record low levels last year. Even more concerning is the further fall in Brits moving to the Commonwealth.

We urge the government to implement the proposals we set out to ensure there is a level playing field for Commonwealth citizens to move to and from the UK.

In particular, our proposals for bilateral mobility zones between the UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand (dubbed Boris' bilaterals after the report's foreword author)  and to reinstate Commonwealth nations to the youth visa scheme would go a long way to help ensure we don't neglect this vital network and the talent it has to offer."

CX is available for comment and interviews. Details of how to get in touch are here.

CX signs MoU with the Royal Commonwealth Society

We are pleased to announce that Commonwealth Exchange (CX) will be working more closely with the Royal Commonwealth Society (RCS) after signing a joint Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

This builds on CX’s strategic aim of forging strong partnerships with other organisations that share our view of the Commonwealth’s possibilities and potential in a modern context.

The MoU allows both parties the opportunity to work together on a forthcoming report on understanding Commonwealth education in young Britons.

Commenting on the agreement our Executive Director, Tim Hewish, has said:

“I am delighted to have an MoU with the RCS. As an historian by background I have always taken a keen interest in the life and works of the RCS. Having this chance to work with the RCS certainly strengthens the reach of CX as a think tank in offering practical and workable Commonwealth solutions in public policy. I look forward to the deeper association between our two organisations.”

You can read more about the RCS by visiting their website or Facebook and Twitter pages

The RCS has also kindly published a blog about CX’s latest report on enhancing Commonwealth defence and strategic connection which can be found here.

The launch of our new paper on Commonwealth security connections

On Wednesday CX launched its newest report "The Commonwealth's Call to Duty - Advancing modern Commonwealth defence connections."

We were joined by our guest of honour, and author of the report's foreword, The Rt Hon Dr Liam Fox MP (Former Secretary of State for Defence).

You can download the report here and check out some photos from the launch below.

The report was also covered by Breitbart here.

Launch of our trade guide for the South African market

Last night we launched the first of our introductory trade guides focusing on South Africa.

You can download the guide here.

We partnered with the South African Chamber of Commerce for the guide and launched it at the fantastic Elwood Atfield Gallery. Wine was supplied by SA Wines Online who some readers may remember from our Commonwealth Food and Drink Festival in December.

Thanks to all three as well as everyone who came!

Here are a selection of photos from the event, courtesy of Tom Hampson.