British American Parliamentary Group Reception Strengthens U.S.-UK Relationships Across Government, Business and Civil Society

On July 22, 2026, Meridian International Center welcomed Members of the British American Parliamentary Group (BAPG), U.S. government officials, business executives, media leaders, and Meridian trustees and partners for a reception and dinner at the residence of Ambassador Dwight Bush and Mrs. Marie Antoinette Cook Bush. Held in partnership with the U.S. Department of State through the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP), the evening celebrated the enduring U.S.-UK relationship while reinforcing the value of exchanges that connect leaders across government, business, and civil society.  

The evening opened with remarks from The Honorable Dwight Bush, former member of Meridian International Center’s Board of Trustees; President of DL Bush & Associates, former U.S. Ambassador to Morocco; The Honorable David Bohigian, Chief Executive Officer of Meridian International Center; and Leigh Ingham, MP, Delegate and Group Representative of the British American Parliamentary Group. Together, they underscored the importance of sustained transatlantic engagement and the role personal relationships play in advancing cooperation between the United States and the United Kingdom.  

The reception honored seven Members of Parliament participating in the British American Parliamentary Group exchange: Lewis Cocking, MP; Peter Fortune, MP; Monica Harding, MP; Leigh Ingham, MP; Alicia Kearns, MP; John Slinger, MP; and Chris Webb, MP. During their ten-day IVLP program, the delegation is meeting with U.S. federal, state, and local leaders to explore the American federalist system and the role non-governmental institutions play in shaping domestic and foreign policy.  

Guests represented a cross-section of the diplomatic, corporate, nonprofit, media, and public sectors, reflecting the broad coalition that supports the U.S.-UK partnership. Attendees included Members of Congress Don Bacon and Paul Tonko; Robert Post, Director of the Office of International Visitors at the U.S. Department of State; Sam Feist, CEO of C-SPAN; Liz Landers, White House Correspondent for PBS News Hour; and Nancy Ziuzin Schlegel, Vice President of International Government Affairs at Lockheed Martin; alongside Meridian Board members, Council members, and partners.  

The reception concluded a day of engagement between British parliamentarians and American leaders, reinforcing Meridian's commitment to strengthening the U.S.-UK relationship through the exchange of ideas, trusted networks, and cross-sector collaboration. 

Project summary

British American Parliamentary Group Reception Strengthens U.S.-UK Relationships Across Government, Business and Civil Society | July 2026