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 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.
