Bond responds to Foreign Secretary’s essay on restoring Britain’s place in the world order

In response to the essay by Foreign Secretary, Yvette Cooper MP, on establishing the UK’s place in the new world order, Romilly Greenhill, CEO of Bond, the UK network for NGOs, said:

“The Foreign Secretary is right to highlight the UK’s role in responding to mounting threats to global stability, and to reaffirm the values of multilateralism, justice and humanitarianism that underpin it.

But a Britain that aspires to be a ‘convening superpower’ must have an international development agenda that matches its diplomatic and defence ambitions. Defence, diplomacy and development are three legs of the same stool: together, they protect people at home and abroad from insecurity and uncertainty. We cannot build lasting peace while slashing UK aid programmes that stop conflict taking hold in the first place.

If the UK government is serious about restoring its reputation on the global stage, and championing progressive values, it must show the same commitment to international development as it does to diplomacy and defence, with strong leadership at the heart of government.”

ENDS. 

Notes for editors

1. The full essay by Foreign Secretary, Yvette Cooper MP, was published in Chatham House here.
2. Bond unites and supports a diverse network of over 350 civil society organisations from across the UK, and allies to help eradicate global poverty, inequality and injustice.
3. For further information or interviews, please get in touch with Emily Loynes at [email protected] or 07909947850