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Wales Online

National

Ruth Mosalski

How your MP voted in the House of Commons for the foreign aid cuts bill

MPs have controversially voted in favour of cutting the UK's contribution to overseas aid.

The UK Government however faced a significant rebellion, with 333 voting in favour of its plans, and 298 against. The majority was 35, when on paper his majority is 83.

Boris Johnson appeared in the Commons to defend his plans to reduce on development spending from 0.7% to 0.5% of national income to save £4bn. The 0.7% level was previously written into law by his party and in the party's 2019 General Election manifesto it said it would maintain it.

He was told his aid cuts would lead to deaths in some of the poorest parts of the world as he faced a Tory revolt over the policy but the Prime Minister insisted it was necessary to protect the public finances following the coronavirus pandemic.

Mr Johnson told the Commons cutting funding for official development assistance from 0.7% of gross national income to 0.5% was necessary because the UK's public finances are under a "greater strain than ever before in peacetime history", adding: "Every pound we spend on aid has to be borrowed and, in fact, represents not our money but money that we're taking from future generations."

However, his predecessor Theresa May said she would rebel for the first time, telling MPs the cut meant the Government "turns its back on the poorest in the world".

"This isn't about palaces for dictators and vanity projects, it's about what cuts to funding mean - that fewer girls will be educated, more girls and boys will become slaves, more children will go hungry and more of the poorest people in the world will die," the former prime minister said.

Mr Johnson faced a large rebellion, who backed a "compromise" put forward by Chancellor Rishi Sunak, which sets out tests for restoring the 0.7% level.

Preseli Pembrokeshire MP Conservative Stephen Crabb voted against the Government's motion saying it would be a "permanent step back" in terms of Britain's contribution to the world.

He told MPs he recognised there are "enormous pressures" on public finances before adding: "What is a difficult moment for us fiscally and politically, it's an absolute tragic, devastating moment for the poorest people around the world for whom the pandemic has been the cause of another wave of dire poverty and suffering. That's what we're debating this afternoon."

He said the 0.7% contribution was the "right thing to do".

Newport West MP Ruth Jones told the debate said she was "appalled" MPs were having to vote on the motion which reflected "badly on us all". She said the projects funded were "basic health and social care projects", not expensive vanity schemes.

Claire O’Shea, Chair of the Wales Overseas Agencies Group (WOAG) said: "The impossible rules set out by the Chancellor mean that this cut to vital Overseas Development Aid is effectively indefinite and permanent. It is an abrogation of ‘Global Britain’ and morally reprehensible.

"The short term impact on lives will be devastating. A few months ago, we asked for a clear roadmap back to our 0.7% commitment.

"We call on the UK Government to reverse this cut immediately."

How did all Wales' MPs vote?