"Since cutting the overseas aid budget to fund higher defence spending losing the excellent Anneliese Dodds in the process Labour has had little to say on the subject, aside from the fact that 0.3% of national income is the new normal. But despite the cuts, Foreign Office sources insist that behind the scenes there is a renewed commitment to winning the argument for the impact and benefits of international development."
"There are a series of milestones over the next 12 months and more at which development campaigners argue that the government has a crucial opportunity to work for change, even with its drastically diminished aid budget. First, the development minister, Jenny Chapman, recently confirmed that the UK would host a summit on development cooperation in the first half of this year. She was at the African Union summit in Addis Ababa this weekend, hearing directly from the continent's leaders."
Labour cut the overseas aid budget to fund higher defence spending, diminishing its public commitment to international development and making 0.3% of national income the new normal. Foreign Office sources indicate a renewed behind-the-scenes commitment to advocate the impact and benefits of international development. Several upcoming milestones present opportunities to press for change despite a reduced aid budget: a UK-hosted summit on development cooperation, a UK-convened summit on illicit financial flows, and preparatory work for the UK's 2027 G20 chairmanship. The G20, broader than the G7 and including Brazil, China and India, now tackles debt relief and global financial system issues.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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