The U.K. aid community’s fears have come to pass.
As Queen Elizabeth II concluded her annual speech containing Britain’s legislative agenda for the year, aid groups expressed their disappointment: foreign aid was again not on the agenda.
“We are all disappointed that the government reneged on a pledge it made before the election and several times since then,” U.K. Aid Network’s Amy Dodd told Devex.
It was just as expected. Days ahead of the event, observers have already warned of its exclusion, a move many see as Prime Minister David Cameron folding to political pressure from the opposition.
The Department for International Development’s ring-fenced budget alone has already faced a lot of criticism. Despite this, the coalition government has expressed its commitment in meeting its 0.7 percent aid target this year, as Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne confirmed in his budget speech last month.
Many in the aid community — even outside the United Kingdom — hailed that commitment and hoped Downing Street would finally push for its inclusion in this year’s priority legislation, with the bill having been prepared for more than a year now.
“The government has repeatedly said they would bring this legislation forward when there was parliamentary time and we are already meeting the 0.7 percent target this year, so it’s certainly surprising that they would go back on this promise now unless it is in response to internal political pressure,” Dodd argued.
Aid groups are not so much worried about the short-term implications of the commitment not becoming law, than the danger the target may be passed on to a new administration that may not be as keen on keeping the 0.7 percent aid target.
“Legislation would ensure that all future governments meet this pledge and would be an incredible legacy for the coalition,” Plan U.K. CEO Tanya Barron told Devex.
Bond CEO Ben Jackson meanwhile said: “The government has publicly committed several times to bringing forward legislation on aid; it is included in the government coalition agreement, and it was confirmed again in the mid-year review. Enshrining 0.7 percent into law will ensure that the target is maintained until it is no longer needed.”
Dodd suggested this may be the last chance for the aid commitment under the current parliament.
“Realistically, if legislation isn’t passed in the next session it seems unlikely it will be passed in this parliament,” she said.
The queen did say the government will continue to support countries in transition in the Middle East and North Africa, and tackle sexual violence in conflict settings. Further, Britain will push for more accountability and transparency, as well as “make progress” in addressing climate change as president of the G-8.
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About the author
Jenny Lei Ravelo@JennyLeiRavelo
Jenny Lei Ravelo is a Devex Senior Reporter based in Manila. She covers global health, with a particular focus on the World Health Organization, and other development and humanitarian aid trends in Asia Pacific. Prior to Devex, she wrote for ABS-CBN, one of the largest broadcasting networks in the Philippines, and was a copy editor for various international scientific journals. She received her journalism degree from the University of Santo Tomas.
