A group of Conservative MPs have been denied an amendment to a bill that would have forced a parliamentary vote on the government decision to cut UK aid spending from 0.7 to 0.5 percent of the UK’s national income. The speaker of the House of Commons ruled that the amendment would not be permitted but did say that the Government should give MPs an “effective” vote on the issue.
In response to this latest development, Professor Melissa Leach, Director, Institute of Development Studies, says:
“It is disappointing that the amendment to reinstate the 0.7% aid target has not been accepted today and regretful that MPs have therefore not been given an opportunity to vote on this crucial life and death issue.
“The scale of the government cuts to UK aid and the way in which they have been introduced – with minimal consultation or notice – endangers lives and our capability to tackle global challenges like poverty, disease and climate change.
“In the week when the UK hosts the G7 leaders, the Prime Minister should live up to his and his party’s manifesto commitment and reverse cuts to the aid budget urgently or give MPs a say on it.”