Bond statement in response to Liz Truss becoming the new secretary of state for foreign, commonwealth and development affairs

Conservative MP for South West Norfolk, Liz Truss, has been appointed as secretary of state for foreign, commonwealth and development affairs.

She replaces Dominic Raab, who has moved to the Ministry of Justice to become justice secretary.

Responding to the announcement, Stephanie Draper, CEO of Bond the UK network for organisations working in international development said:

“We look forward to working with the new Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, Liz Truss. This year has hit home the need for global cooperation to deal with climate change, the rise in extreme poverty, and ongoing humanitarian crises. But this, undoubtedly, has been made harder by the cuts to UK aid.

It is critical that the new Foreign Secretary uses the upcoming international development strategy to ensure UK aid remains poverty-focused, and that the whole portfolio of the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office, delivers long-term, sustainable development for the most marginalised communities, whilst protecting human rights and civil society space globally.

The Secretary of State has an important role to play in delivering a high ambition COP26, and in ensuring ODA becomes fully aligned with the Paris Agreement. The UK should walk the talk by providing both new and additional climate finance for poor and vulnerable countries, and finance to address loss and damage and use our diplomatic reach to close the gap to 1.5C.”

ENDS

Bond is the UK network for organisations working in international development. Bond unites and supports a diverse network of over 400 civil society organisations from across the UK, and allies to help eradicate global poverty, inequality and injustice.
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