After Boris Johnson, what next for UK aid?

Boris Johnson, the U.K. prime minister, is ready to stand down, in a move that is likely to have significant implications for U.K aid.

Johnson, who was pushed out after a series of scandals, wants to remain in office until autumn, although he may be forced to leave sooner.

Johnson's tenure has seen a cut in U.K. aid from 0.7% to 0.5% of gross national income, as well as the end of the well-regarded Department for International Development, which became part of the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.

The new prime minister of the United Kingdom will be chosen by members of the Conservative Party, and there is no single standout candidate. The small group of potential contenders has wide-ranging views on international development.

A Guardian newspaper summary has the two favorites as former Chancellor Rishi Sunak, who has been accused of trying to impose further aid cuts by stealth, and Penny Mordaunt, who as a former head of the DFID and nonprofit worker, is believed to take a more favorable approach to aid.

Outside contenders include Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, whose recent international development strategy has faced criticism, and Tom Tugendhat, chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, who led that criticism, and who rebelled against his own party when the vote to cut foreign aid took place.

Stephanie Draper, CEO at Bond, the U.K. network of NGOs, has urged whoever takes over from Johnson to reverse much of his legacy on aid.

“Under his leadership we also saw the poorly considered merger between the Foreign Office and DfID, as well as the devastating cuts to the UK aid budget, removing a lifeline to billions of people dealing with conflict, poverty and climate change,” she said.

“We hope whoever replaces him takes urgent steps to get us back to 0.7% of GNI going to UK aid, so we can legitimately reclaim our role as a global player when it comes to delivering on our promises to the world's most marginalised people.”