Baroness Campbell of Surbiton gave a speech in the House of Lords on 13 October 2026 using an AI recreation of her own voice, built by the voice company ElevenLabs [1]. ElevenLabs called it “a first for the UK Parliament” [1].
Spotted via @ElevenLabs on X
Why she used it
Baroness Campbell is a crossbench peer and disability rights campaigner. ElevenLabs says she has spinal muscular atrophy, which affects her speech [1]. The Hansard Society, which studies how Parliament works, said her disability increasingly affects her ability to speak, and that the technology lets her deliver her own words directly to the House [2].
In her own words, as quoted by the Hansard Society: “It’s my voice, my style, my words” [2]. She also praised the Lords as “the most responsive, and inclusive environment I have ever had the privilege to work in”, adding: “Attitude is everything” [2].
How the Lords approved it
The House of Lords has strict rules about who may speak and who may enter the chamber. According to the Hansard Society, the Lords Procedure Committee approved the use of the AI voice [2]. It builds on a decision the committee made in 2012 to let her personal assistant into the chamber to read her speeches when needed, an exception to the rules that keep non-members out.
The speech was given during the second reading of the Health Bill [2]. A second reading is the first main debate on a bill, when members discuss its main ideas. UK Parliament says the bill would make changes to the NHS in England, including abolishing NHS England and Healthwatch, and would set up a single patient record [3].
Is it a first?
ElevenLabs describes it as a first for the UK Parliament [1], and the Hansard Society called it the first use of the technology to deliver a speech in Parliament [2]. Neither claims it is a first for any parliament in the world, and TSN does not make that claim either.
What this means
- The words were hers. The AI recreated her voice; it did not write the speech.
- Parliament adapted its rules. The approval came through the Lords’ own Procedure Committee.
- Voice technology is reaching public life. This is a real-world use of AI voice cloning to help someone take part in debate.
Sources
- ElevenLabs (@ElevenLabs) on X, 13 October 2026. https://x.com/ElevenLabs/status/2110037384192774210
- Hansard Society, “Parliament Matters Bulletin: What’s coming up in Parliament this week? 12-16 October 2026”. https://www.hansardsociety.org.uk/news/parliament-matters-bulletin-12-october-2026
- UK Parliament, “Health Bill considered by House of Lords”, 9 October 2026. https://www.parliament.uk/business/news/2026/october-2026/health-bill-second-reading/
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