The U.K. development minister was accused of being “disrespectful” and “naïve” by the chair of a parliamentary committee on Tuesday, at a hearing in which she said that the U.K. should no longer be seen “as a global charity.”
Member of Parliament Sarah Champion, who is chair of the International Development Committee, said at the committee’s hearing Tuesday that she was frustrated that Jenny Chapman — who was appointed as minister of state for international development, Latin America, and Caribbean in February after Anneliese Dodds resigned the development brief — had leaked her speech to several newspapers ahead of the committee hearing, which she said Chapman had requested to speak at. “I find that rather disrespectful to this committee,” she said.
The speech claimed that “the days of viewing the U.K. as a global charity” were “over” and that the public wanted to move on from the current model of international aid. Chapman said the key was to sharpen the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office’s focus on humanitarian emergencies — namely, Gaza, Sudan, and Ukraine — as well as health and climate change.
About the author
Susannah Birkwood
Susannah Birkwood is a U.K.-based freelance journalist and media and communications consultant who has worked for international organizations including WWF and Plan International.
