Media Freedom Coalition

Debate between Viscount Chandos and Baroness Chapman of Darlington

Wednesday 25th March 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)]

I am very happy to take that up with my right honourable friend the Secretary of State at DSIT. I am sure she would be fascinated and interested in the points that the noble Lord raises and will wish to provide a response as soon as she can.

[Viscount Chandos (Lab)]

My Lords, I declare my interest as chair of the Thomson Foundation. The Government have understandably prioritised work in this area in Ukraine, Gaza, Lebanon and Sudan. Does my noble friend the Minister agree that it is important that funding continues to be made available in other countries where the work may be more preventative and less reactive?

[Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)]

Just to make clear, the protected geographies that have just been described are for our official development assistance generally; our work on media freedom, though, goes much more widely—in a far greater list of countries, such as Mexico, the Philippines and Bangladesh. The noble Viscount can be assured that that will continue. Wherever we find an issue that needs to be addressed to do with media freedom, we will act.

Sanctions Implementation and Enforcement

Debate between Viscount Chandos and Baroness Chapman of Darlington

Thursday 15th May 2025 Lords Chamber

[Viscount Chandos (Lab)]

I add my thanks and support for the Statement that my noble friend the Minister made, and raise a specific issue about this prospective use of frozen assets, whether the assets themselves or the income derived from them. A massive reconstruction challenge faces us in Ukraine, but there is also the important issue of sustainable media. I declare my interest as chair of the Thomson Foundation. I was privileged to be at the launch of the FCDO media freedom exhibition presided over by my right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary. I just put in a plea that some part of the assets and the income from them be added to the modest but invaluable budget that there is to support media freedom.

[Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)]

I hear my noble friend, who also wants us to move on frozen assets. It is something on which we all agree. Along with our partners, we have managed to release the $50 billion in the ERA, but I completely hear that noble Lords want us to do more.