Sir Lindsay Hoyle welcomes Czech delegation to Speaker’s House
19 November 2021
The flag of the Czech Republic flew for the first time at the main entrance to Parliament to mark a visit by the President of the country’s Senate to the Speaker of the House of Commons.
Sir Lindsay Hoyle said he hoped the gesture would continue and enhance the good relations between the UK and the Czech Republic.
Miloš Vystrčil, President of the Senate, said he was very touched by the welcome – a day after the 32nd anniversary of the Velvet Revolution in Czechoslovakia, which ended more than 40 years of communist rule in the country.
The meeting was organised by Sir Lindsay as part of his Speaker-led UK parliamentary diplomacy to establish enduring ties between countries and parliamentarians.
The two men used the opportunity to discuss security, the global threat of terrorism, enhancing parliamentary links and shared values.
Among the delegation to see Mr Speaker was Marie Chatardová, the new Czech ambassador to London.
The group also visited memorials to the Second World War, the House of Lords and the University of Oxford.