Adam Jogee

I would bet on you, brother. But in all seriousness, my hon. Friend raises an important point. The Commonwealth games is just one example of how the Commonwealth brings people together, and he and I will be cheering on team GB together as they do well. In the latter—excuse me, Madam Deputy Speaker, my hon. Friend threw me there with his excitement at taking part in the tug of war in the Commonwealth games one day. The theme of this year’s Commonwealth Day is “unlocking opportunities together for a prosperous Commonwealth”, reminding us of the opportunities that stand before us. It is a massive regret that the Commonwealth is currently underutilised. It is underfunded and does not get the recognition it deserves by member states and its leaders. It needs meaningful support and a greater sense of direction to make it the useful network for the contemporary world we all live in. That is particularly important given the fraying relations across the globe. With the aggression of hostile states like Russia and China, we face a period of acute geopolitical uncertainty. The Commonwealth has a unique opportunity to bring together nations that share a commitment to mutual respect and the rule of law. The Commonwealth makes a unique contribution to international relations, as it is an association built on dialogue, where large and small states are given an equal voice at the table. It also offers the opportunity to make progressive change. The Commonwealth already supports programmes focused on advancing women’s rights, expanding access to quality education and tackling the climate crisis. We use Commonwealth Day 2026 to recognise and celebrate that, because the Commonwealth must not be a symbolic institution: it must be a practical network that promotes progressive ideas across the world. As my hon. Friend the Member for Mid and South Pembrokeshire (Henry Tufnell) noted, reducing barriers to trade between member states could deliver significant benefits for my constituents, and yours too, Madam Deputy Speaker.