UK Is the UK upholding the UN’s Women Peace and Security Agenda? | International Development Committee

Source: United Kingdom UK Parliament (video statements)

Did you know peace agreements are 64% less likely to fail when women meaningfully participate? Yet in 2023, women made up only 9.6% of negotiators.

The International Development Committee’s latest report shows the Government is losing hard‑won gains for women and girls as aid cuts and reduced resourcing undermine the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda.

The Government must commit more fund to WPS, protect gender and development expertise at the FCDO, and show more leadership on the international stage.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/yosD9dTQIfQ

UK Why is this statue in Parliament damaged?

Source: United Kingdom UK Parliament (video statements)

If you look closely when you visit the Palace of Westminster, you can still see traces of suffragette protests.

In 1909, Marjorie Hume and three other suffragettes locked themselves to the statues in St Stephen’s Hall in protest. In the process of removing them, the authorities damaged the spur on Viscount Falkland’s boot.

📸 Viscount Falkland 1610-43, Sculpture by John Bell. UK Parliament, WOA S35.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/_lLiB0xXITA

UK Is the UK’s National Security Strategy fit for purpose in 2026?

Source: United Kingdom UK Parliament (video statements)

The Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy has published a report after examining the Government’s National Security Strategy, published in June 2025, which set out to improve security at home, project strength abroad and develop ‘sovereign capabilities’.

The Committee has said the Government must provide more clarity on its plans to protect the UK’s national security.

Find out more by visiting our website at www.parliament.uk/jcnsss

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/ACO7C_UQsq4

UK Can you spot disinformation when you see it? | Foreign Affairs Committee

Source: United Kingdom UK Parliament (video statements)

The Foreign Affairs Committee’s latest report finds that threats are intensifying from hostile states such as Russia, China, and Iran, alongside non-state actors like the Wagner Group. We cannot afford to wait.

The Committee is calling on the Government to do more to combat this threat. Find out more at parliament.uk/facom

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/eI-i1PC-FOA

UK E-petition debate relating to a Maternity Commissioner – Monday 20 April 2026.

Source: United Kingdom UK Parliament (video statements)

The Petitions Committee has scheduled a debate relating to a Maternity Commissioner.

Tony Vaughan MP has been asked by the Committee to open the debate. The Government will send a Minister to respond.

Read the petitions:
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/751174

Find petitions you agree with, and sign them: https://petition.parliament.uk/

What are petition debates?

Petition debates are ‘general’ debates which allow MPs from all parties to discuss the important issues raised by one or more petitions, and put their concerns to Government Ministers.

Petition debates don’t end with a vote to implement the request of a petition. This means that MPs will not vote on the issues raised in the petition at the end of the debate.

The Petitions Committee can only schedule debates on petitions to parliament started on petition.parliament.uk

Find out more about how petition debates work: https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/326/petitions-committee/content/194347/how-petitions-debates-work/

Stay up-to-date
Follow the Committee on Twitter for real-time updates on its work: https://www.twitter.com/hocpetitions

Thumbnail image ©UK Parliament / Jessica Taylor

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcD2XNoNtss

UK Big Ben will be silent this evening 🔔

Source: United Kingdom UK Parliament (video statements)

Parliament’s clock mechanics will be busy changing over 3000 clocks across the estate this weekend.

At 1am tomorrow morning, all UK clocks go forward an hour as we move into British Summer Time. Including the Great Clock in the Elizabeth Tower, which will also undergo scheduled maintenance. 🔧

From 6pm today, the hands will show the wrong time, and the bells will be silent. 🔇 By 2am on Sunday, the chimes should return, marking the start of British Summer Time.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/X8pY3hHoJZY