PM warned foreign aid cuts ‘cast shadow’ over UK role at G7
Boris Johnson has been warned that his widely-criticised cuts to foreign aid cast a shadow over the UK’S role at the G7, with a risk the nation’s credibility on the world stage will be undermined.
The Prime Minister has been criticisedbympsonallsidesfor temporarily reducing foreign aid from 0.7 per cent of national income to 0.5 per cent, and thereby shelving his 2019 manifestocommitmenttomaintain spending at the higher rate.
Atotalof30torymps,including former prime minister Theresa May, have supported an amendment which would requirenewlegislationtomake up the shortfall left by the cut to the UK'S official development assistance.
Inalettertomrjohnson,1,700 charities, academics and business leaders said: “We look forward to working with the G7 and UK Government to deliver ambitiousoutcomesforpeople and planet at a time of unprecedented human need.
“Making progress on these critical issues at the G7 will requirealloftheuk'sdiplomatic experience.
“Inevitably the UK’S decision to cut its aid commitment during a pandemic casts a shadow over its ability to deliver at this year's critical G7 summit.
“While other G7 countries have stepped up their aid budget, the UK is the only one to have rowed back on its commitments.
"Ag7thatshowstheuk'ssupport for other countries will be critical to a successful Cop (climate change conference).
“Without a reversal to this decision, the UK'S credibility and voice on the international stage will be undermined, and its calls to other G7 leaders to do more on critical issues such as vaccine delivery, civic space, education, gender equality, healthcare,climatechangeand famine prevention risk ringing hollow.”
The letter adds: “Despite ongoingcovid-19concernsand national response, economic forecasts by the Bank of Englandpredictwearesettoreturn to pre-pandemic levels of gross domestic product (GDP) by the end of 2021. There is therefore no justifiable economic need to continue to break our promise to the world's most marginalised people.”
The letter, with signatories including Oxfam GB and Save The Children, said the aid cuts are “a double blow” to the world's poorest communities in the midst of a pandemic.“as aresult,familiesaregoinghungry,girlsarenotgoingtoschool, women’s rights are being sidelined, persons with disabilities are being further left behind, vaccines are expiring on shelves, and diseases are being allowed to spread, and we are reneging on our commitment to lead from the front on tackling climate-change,” the letter said.
Mrs May heaped pressure on the Prime Minister to avert a Commonsrevoltasthenumber of Tory MPS to back the rebel amendment doubled to 30.
Mrs May’s former deputy Damian Green and Johnny Mercer, who recently resigned as defence minister, also added their names to an amendment led by former international development secretary Andrew Mitchell. The amendment, if selected by Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle and approved by a majority of MPS, wouldforcethegovernmentto make up any shortfall.