‘The Commonwealth is a force for good because Britain was, is, and will continue to be a force for good’-Andrew Rosindell MP

The Mayor of Havering, Councillor John Mylod, led a ceremony of the Commonwealth Flag raising at the Town Hall in Romford yesterday (Monday 14 March).

The theme for Commonwealth Day 2022 is ‘innovating, connecting and transforming’. This highlights how the 54 countries in the Commonwealth family are working together to achieve goals like fighting climate change, improving lives through social and democratic development, promoting good governance and boosting trade.

The theme was chosen because Commonwealth countries are connected by deep-rooted networks of friendship and goodwill.

Given that 2022 is Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee Year, there will also be a special focus this year on the role service plays in the lives of people and communities across the Commonwealth.

Representatives from the Royal Air Force, the Royal Air Force Cadets and The Salvation Army joined staff who attended the event to hear messages from The Queens Commonwealth, recited by the Deputy Lieutenant of Havering, Nick Bracken OBE and the Commonwealth Secretary General speech, recited by Andrew Rosindell MP for Romford.

The Mayor of Havering also delivered a speech that included reciting the Commonwealth Affirmation followed by the flag being raised on the roof of the Town Hall at 10am.

Mayor of Havering, Councillor John Mylod, said:

“Today marks a time for communities to come together to learn about and celebrate the Commonwealth.

“It provides us with an opportunity to promote understanding on global issues and recognises that together, the countries, and people of the Commonwealth can work together to help improve lives.”

Commonwealth Day is celebrated across the Commonwealth by young people, schools, communities and civil society organisations. It provides an opportunity to promote understanding on global issues, international cooperation and the work of Commonwealth organisations.

Also present at the flag raising was Romford MP Andrew Rosindell. Mr Rosindell told the Havering Daily:

“More needs to be done to strengthen the relationship between the United Kingdom and our Commonwealth allies and to move away from an ever-closer European Union.

“We have the capacity to advance so many good causes around the world – such as democracy, economic freedom, and civil rights – but only if we work together.

Economically, the Commonwealth is dynamic. The combined GDP of members tops $10 trillion, or 14% of the total global GDP.

Half of the top 20 global emerging cities are in the Commonwealth, including Mumbai, Nairobi, and Kuala Lumpur.

We already have so much in place – a shared culture, a shared heritage, and most importantly, a shared language.

It cannot be right that we reject all of this in favour of more arbitrary groupings of countries such as the European Union and the United Nations.

We must also learn to cherish and take pride in British history once again. Our national conversation about the British Empire is parochial and myopic.

The success of the Commonwealth, the enduring influence of British culture and in particular Her Majesty The Queen, are all indicative of a far more nuanced reality in which the British Empire helped to connect the world and spread British values.

The Commonwealth is a force for good because Britain was, is, and will continue to be a force for good.”