Democracy and Unelected Strong Leaders

Lord Singh of Wimbledon Excerpts

Thursday 3rd April 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent (Lab)]

I thank my noble friend for his question. Jo Cox was my friend, and noble Lords across your Lordships’ House will appreciate both her legacy and that of Sir David Amess. On the political civility commission, I am so pleased that, before she joined your Lordships’ House, my noble friend Lady Smith of Malvern chaired it and published the report last year. All mainstream political parties have engaged and there were 28 recommendations, 12 of which are in progress and seven adopted, and there are three for individual parties to adopt. It is a core part of what we do, and the Government have a responsibility, with our Defending Democracy Taskforce, to keep safe those who are brave enough to put their name on the ballot paper.

[Lord Singh of Wimbledon (CB)]

My Lords, democracy is equated with majority rule and can easily become majority bigotry. We see this in the democratic rule of President Trump in the United States, with an alarming increase in the targeting of blacks, immigrants and refugees. In India, the world’s largest democracy, the Home Minister has referred to Muslims as “termites”. Does the Minister agree that a healthy democracy should look to what Sikh’s call “sarbat da bhala”—that is, the equal treatment and well-being of all?

[Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent (Lab)]

My Lords, I spent a great deal of my time running HOPE not hate, campaigning against political extremism up and down the country. We succeed as a country when we celebrate community cohesion and bring people together, which is one of the joys of living in our democracy.