Member News
By Tony Grew - 28th December 2010
Gary Streeter is on his third "tour of duty" with the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD).
The Tory MP for South West Devon regards the foundation as one of the best-kept secrets in Parliament.
As its chair he is keen that the hundreds of MPs first elected in May get involved with its work.
WFD was founded in 1992, as democracies were emerging across eastern Europe, to preach best practice and impart party political know-how to the new politicians.
Its work continues today with parliamentary strengthening programmes in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Mozambique, Sierra Leone, Uganda, Georgia, Macedonia, Ukraine, Egypt and Lebanon.
Streeter has wide experience of both parliamentary strengthening and party political support.
He first worked with WFD in 2001 when he was shadow secretary of state for international development and describes it as "punching above its weight".
It is helped by the strength of the Westminster "brand" internationally, Streeter adds.
"MPs can play a number of roles," he says.
"The golden rule the world over is that only politicians can truly understand each other.
"We have some very good campaigning politicians here (at Westminster), others that can help draft a manifesto, help with policy work and preparing for government."
He is keen that the 2010 intake get involved. After all, "campaigners are born, not made" and many of them will have years of election experience and know-how.
WFD draws on the expertise of the Westminster political parties and works both on a party-to-party and cross-party basis to develop the capacity of local political parties and politicians.
The foundation has current cross-party political programmes in Ethiopia, Sierra Leone and Bangladesh.
Streeter says there are "principles that emerge" when a country comes out of colonialism or communism and takes its first steps towards democracy.
"Politicians will gather around big personalities and that tends to create a lack of coherence.
"It is only in a second or third wave of change that there is a coalescence around right or left, in broad terms.
"That is when we can engage and pass on our experience.
"Democracy has to have its local feet on the ground."
WFD works with countries that have adopted a French or presidential model, not just the Westminster system.
Streeter is particularly proud of the progress made in Maldives.
When he first went there the country was ruled by a dictator.
It now has political parties and an elected president.
He also speaks of meeting brave politicians in Belarus, "people who had been in prison and would be again".
"WFD are moving east at the moment," he says.
"In Mongolia we have done quite a lot of work with our sister conservative party."
WFD’s main source of income is the FCO, from whom it currently receives a annual grant of £4.1 million.
Streeter argues it is money well spent.
"We promote global stability, that helps reduce mass migration.
"We are not a world power but we have tremendous influence.
"We promote the UK brand, and we are very much the 'market leaders' in this area with our model of parliamentary democracy."
WFD was founded in the aftermath of the collapse of the Soviet Union and the political transformations which took place in Europe.
More than two decades later, its work is more in demand than ever, from Mongolia to Mozambique.
To find out more about WFD visit their website.
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