Public opinion experts warned U.K. members of Parliament this week that a focus in the aid sector on decolonization, reparations, and power dynamics was a “non-starter” that risks alienating much of the British public.
Speaking before the House of Commons’ International Development Committee on Tuesday, Luke Tryl, executive director at More in Common, a public opinion research organization, told MPs that debates around decolonization were often perceived as a distraction from whether aid actually works.
“The introspection that has dominated the U.K. aid sector, particularly in the early 2020s, has actually been quite harmful,” Tryl said. “It can come across in a way that makes people say, ‘I put in money. I pay. Are you calling me a colonialist because I want to help people in another part of the world?’”
About the author
Susannah Birkwood
Susannah Birkwood is a Devex contributing reporter focusing on U.K. aid policy and international development. She has reported on foreign aid budgets, peacebuilding, and the politics of the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, drawing on more than 16 years of experience across newsrooms and NGO press offices. She has overseen major media campaigns for international NGOs, including WWF, ActionAid, and Plan International, and has advised a wide range of charities and INGOs on media strategy and press outreach.
