Our President, Lord Fowler has announced that he is stepping down from his role as the Lord Speaker in April 2021.
The Lord Speaker is the presiding officer, chairman and highest authority in the House of Lords, analogous to the Speaker of the House of Commons.
Lord Fowler has served in Parliament for over 50 years. As he is now independent, he will have the freedom to campaign on issues that are important to him, particularly in the area of HIV and AIDS.
“Around the world we have lost the lives of 35 million men, women and children since the onset of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. 35 million. While in addition to that, there are examples beyond count of the persecution of LGBT people worldwide. Even now in 2021, there are some 70 nations where homosexuality is illegal and where there are obvious barriers against people coming forward for treatment. I want to spend the next years campaigning against these modern evils and trying to support the many individuals and organisations in the field who are working to turn the tide.”
From 1981–1987 Norman Fowler served as Secretary of State for Health and Social Services, during which time he headed the department’s response to the AIDS epidemic, and overseeing the implementation of the ground-breaking ‘Don’t Die of Ignorance’ awareness campaign.
Read Lord Fowler’s full statement here.
Photo credits: UK Parliament