Bond statement in response to no parliamentary aid cuts vote

Responding to the speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle rejecting calls for a vote in parliament on the cuts to the aid budget, Bond, the UK network for organisation working in international development said:

“It is regretful that the amendment to reinstate the 0.7% aid target has not been picked today. The government’s continued attempts to prevent parliament from having a meaningful and effective say on whether the aid cuts should be reversed is nothing short of shameful. Too many aid and development programmes helping the most marginalised people have been closed down, taking away the basics, clean water and sanitation, vaccinations or education for children, food and shelter during conflict.

How can the UK expect other G7 nations to step forward, when we ourselves are stepping back, despite knowing there is no economic need for us to balance our books on the backs of the world’s poorest people? The government should live up to its manifesto commitment and reverse cuts to the aid budget urgently or give parliament a say.”

Ends

Notes to editor

1. Over 1,700 NGOs, academics and business leaders sent a letter on Sunday to the Prime Minister calling for the cuts to UK aid to be reversed: UK’s words risk ringing hollow at G7 unless aid cuts are reversed, warn academics, NGOs and business leaders
2. Signatories from NGOs, academia and business leaders include UN Global Compact Network UK, International Chamber of Commerce UK, The Partnering Initiative, Business Fights Poverty, Cotton Connect, Oxfam GB, Save the Children, Amref Health Africa UK, ActionAid UK, WWF-UK, CAFOD, and academics from The University of East Anglia, Durham University, Bristol University, The University of Cambridge, Edinburgh University. The complete list of signatures can be found here.