25Jan 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Not a penny for new aid in Tonga this year, following aid cut

Not a penny for new aid in Tonga this year, following aid cut

Parliamentary news
Layla Moran MP has been granted an Urgent Question on the humanitarian situation in Tonga, following the eruption of the Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Ha'apai volcano on 15 January.  Liberal Democrat analysis from the Government’s own DevTracker shows that UK aid spending in Tonga has been reduced to £0 in 2021-22, a reduction of more than £500k on 2020-21, in the first year of the Government’s aid cut.  The Government is yet to announce the release of any new financial aid to the country following the eruption. Layla Moran criticised the Government’s decision to cut the international development budget, saying that it “has left us responding to disasters like this with one hand tied behind our back”.  The eruption of Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Ha'apai volcano and subsequent tsunami in Tonga on 15 January has particularly affected smaller islands - on…
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27Jul 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
PM’s summit risks becoming ‘national embarrassment’

PM’s summit risks becoming ‘national embarrassment’

Parliamentary news
Ahead of Boris Johnson co-hosting a Global Education summit, Liberal Democrats Spokesperson for International Development Layla Moran MP said: "Girls’ education was once a priority for this Prime Minister. Now he uses it as a political sound bite while he goes back on a promise he made to the country and to the 130 million girls who currently have no access to education, at a time when funds have never been more urgently needed. "This week’s summit risks being a national embarrassment. How can the Prime Minister stand up and urge other countries to give generously, while he is slashing spending on girls’ education by nearly £300 million this year? Boris Johnson is taking global leaders for fools if he thinks they won’t see through his ‘do as I say,…
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14Jul 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Davey on aid cut: Broken promise will switch off Blue Wall voters in droves

Davey on aid cut: Broken promise will switch off Blue Wall voters in droves

Parliamentary news
Responding to the Government winning a vote to abandon its commitment on international development spending, Leader of the Liberal Democrats, Ed Davey MP said: "Boris Johnson has just switched off millions of Conservative voters by callously breaking his promise and abandoning millions of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged people in our world. "It's decisions like this that will make millions of voters, especially in the Blue Wall, move away from the Conservatives in droves. This Conservative Government has lost touch with the values of our country. "Their unlawful tests for aid spending are the height of cynicism - as they were designed never to be met. The 0.7% target has been jettisoned as a result, and the law broken yet again by this Prime Minister. “This Johnson cut is costing…
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14Jun 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
G7 a missed opportunity for Britain

G7 a missed opportunity for Britain

Parliamentary news
Responding to the end of the G7 meeting, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and International Development Layla Moran MP said: “Rather than make the case for equal access to Covid vaccinations, the UK has instead become an obstacle. We should be joining the US and France in making the case for Covid vaccine patent waivers, instead of arguing against them. And our own commitment of vaccine doses is totally derisory. “It is deeply disappointing that the Prime Minister failed to use this opportunity to recommit to the 0.7% target for development spending. Britain’s proud reputation of advocating that the richest countries should meet their international development commitments has been ruined. “Meanwhile the Northern Ireland Protocol row suggests that we as a nations cannot be trusted to hold to our…
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07Jun 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Foreign aid cuts: Government actions ruining UK’s reputation

Foreign aid cuts: Government actions ruining UK’s reputation

Parliamentary news
Responding to the announcement that the amendment on aid cuts has not been selected for a vote in Parliament, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for International Development Layla Moran MP said: "Today’s decision is just the start of the battle to reinstate the 0.7% target. Boris Johnson might have had a lucky escape from a vote on the cut today, but he cannot run and hide from Parliamentary democracy forever. "In a week which sees the eyes of the world on the UK at the G7, the Conservatives’ actions – from making it harder to vote at home to abandoning our development commitments around the world – are ruining our country’s reputation. "The Liberal Democrats will continue to stand up for the 0.7% target, which we have supported for over fifty years…
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04Jun 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Broken Tory promises on aid targets trashing Britain’s global reputation

Broken Tory promises on aid targets trashing Britain’s global reputation

Parliamentary news
Ahead of a potential vote on a tabled amendment to the Advanced Research and Invention Agency Bill on Monday, aiming to hold the Government to the 0.7% of GNI aid pledge, Liberal Democrat Foreign Affairs and International Development Spokesperson Layla Moran MP said: “The Conservative Government’s decision to cut development spending has done extraordinary damage to Britain’s reputation with our allies and partners from across the globe. In a week which will see the eyes of the world on the UK as we host the G7, now is the time for leadership - but instead, the Conservatives want Britain to hide from its responsibilities during a global pandemic. “Every Conservative MP stood on a manifesto commitment to the 0.7% target. If they vote to cut the development budget next week,…
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28Apr 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Government aid cuts raise the risk of new Covid variants

Government aid cuts raise the risk of new Covid variants

Parliamentary news
Responding to reports that the UK Government plans to cut funding for life-saving water projects in developing countries, as well as slashing funding for polio eradication, Layla Moran MP, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and International Development, commented: “Now we can see why the Foreign Secretary is hiding the details of the Government’s deep, potentially unlawful aid cuts. In the middle of a global pandemic no less, water, sanitation and hygiene programmes are being cut to the bone. Deep cuts to polio eradication efforts are shocking and could prevent the disease being eliminated. “Cutting aid for water and sanitation raises the risks of new variants, which could wash up on our shores. The Liberal Democrats will stand up against these cuts and for the 0.7% of GNI commitment, which…
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31Aug 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Scrapping foreign aid shows Government abandoning world stage

Scrapping foreign aid shows Government abandoning world stage

Parliamentary news
Responding to reports that the Chancellor is set to scrap Foreign Aid, Liberal Democrat International Development spokesperson Wendy Chamberlain said: “For too many vulnerable people in need around the world, UK foreign aid has made the difference between life and death.  “Despite previous assurances, the mask has now slipped and we can see the callous Tories for who they really are. “By scrapping foreign aid, the Government is abandoning the world stage and turning a blind eye to the crippling poverty children face around the world.“Now more than ever we need oversight and scrutiny by retaining the ICAI, the International Development Committee and a Development Minister in Cabinet."
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23Jul 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

£2.9 billion aid cut shows Govt abandoning world stage

Parliamentary news
Responding to reports the Government is to cut its global aid budget by £2.9 billion this year, Liberal Democrat International Development spokesperson Wendy Chamberlain said: “For so many vulnerable people in need around the world, UK international aid has made the difference between life and death.  “Despite previous assurances that clearly weren’t worth the paper they were written on, we now see the callous Tories for who they really are. “This devasting cut to international aid is a clear sign that the UK is abandoning the world stage. Because of this Government more children will have their life chances blighted by poverty.“Now more than ever we need oversight and scrutiny by retaining the ICAI, the International Development Committee and a Development Minister in Cabinet."
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17Jul 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Government’s half-baked merger plan is threat to international aid

Parliamentary news
Responding to the International Development Committee’s final report into the 'Effectiveness of UK aid’, which warns the 'impulsive' decision to abolish DFID is likely to have dire consequences, Liberal Democrat International Development Spokesperson Wendy Chamberlain said: “For countless vulnerable people in need around the globe, UK international aid has made a vital difference. We should be proud of that. “All the experts warn that Dominic Raab’s half-baked plan is threatening international aid. The Tories should be ashamed for looking at reducing global poverty as nothing more than a political choice. “We need oversight now more than ever. Ministers must commit to retaining the ICAI, the International Development Committee and a Development Minister in Cabinet or public faith will be washed away."
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