Norton Offers Summary of U.K. trip as Member of Congressional Delegation to London
WASHINGTON, DC – This week, after returning from a four-day trip as a member of a congressional delegation conference with Members of Parliament to the United Kingdom for the 2014 British American Parliamentary Group Meeting, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) summarized several major issues discussed in the meetings. The U.S. and British delegations discussed the future of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), the world economy, and U.K. and U.S. political outlooks. Ten Members of Congress and a roughly equal number of Members of Parliament participated, from the Labour Party, the Liberal Democrat Party and the Conservative Party, including members of the House of Lords, the Upper House of Parliament in the U.K.
Norton offered the following summary of the delegation’s trip.
“These meetings with our closest ally took on the most weighty subjects of the day. We discussed NATO at a time when Russian President Vladimir Putin has invaded Crimea, with no response from NATO. It was an opportune time to discuss the future of NATO. Our discussions were candid enough to raise the question of whether NATO is a relic of the Cold War or can be made to address issues in today’s world. For example, if cyber attacks are a new weapon of war, NATO must be prepared to respond to and prevent such threats. This sampling of issues we discussed led many of us from both sides of the Atlantic to conclude that NATO needs to be rethought and revised to fit global threats in the 21st century.
“The coalition government in power in the U.K. did not engage in any economic stimulus and has had a slower recovery than our country. However, Britain’s financial sector has become a mega-center of the global economy. In this role, money from around the world, including from oligarchs, helps fuel the U.K. economy. It was reported that 80% of U.K. jobs have been created in London. While there have been some benefits to the rest of the country, the coalition government is in danger of losing the election next year. Interestingly though, to note that after offering a budget tailored to attract voters, the press reported, as we left London, that the coalition and the Labour Party were neck and neck. However, Labor Party members and coalition members agreed on the necessity of their national health system.
“Among the most fascinating revelations that arose from our discussions was that there appeared to be bipartisan objection to the TTIP among Members of Congress on the trip. Some of our Republican colleagues raised serious concerns about loss of jobs from sectors in their districts. On the other hand, the British position was given by a member of the Labour Party and was favorable to the TTIP. I believe this has much to do with the need for an economic boost and the fact that, as a maritime island country, Britain is generally favorable to trade agreements.
“Equally fascinating was the discussion of the pending referendum in Scotland for independence from England. With devolution of power to a state-like government in Scotland has come a more focused drive for Scottish independence. However, it looks as if independence will be defeated. Even more interesting – men are more likely to want independence than women. When I inquired about this, MPs indicated that with oil in the North Sea, men who have experienced joblessness see greater potential for employment if independence is gained.
“We were briefed about both U.S. and U.K. politics by an American expatriate who is now a British citizen, Sir Robert Worcester, who lives in a palace he rehabilitated. Sir Robert is leading the 800th anniversary celebration of the Magna Carta next year. He is in the business of polling and his forecasts have been much praised. He previously taught at Princeton and remembered serving on the board of the ACLU with me when he lived in this country.
“The trip deepened my understanding of pending national issues of importance. However, no trip to the U.K. by a U.S. congressional delegation would have been complete without our trip to the floors of the House of Commons and the House of Lords, where their spirited debates occur. Real icing on the U.K. cake!"
Published: March 28, 2014