Leaving development and aid spending within the Foreign Office (Keir Starmer considers ditching Labour pledge to reinstate DfID, 28 June) would be a mistake that would act as a drag on poverty reduction, be counterproductive for foreign policy and limit value for money from the aid budget. The world is seeing a rise in absolute poverty and inequality, so a department with expertise in fighting both is needed.
Low-income countries are distrustful of a global economic system that is rigged against them, so a dedicated development department would be a powerful, positive signal that a new government’s commitment to them reaches beyond narrow national self-interest. Finally, the record of aid spending in current years – not least on Home Office costs – demonstrates how aid can be poorly spent when poverty reduction is deprioritised and it is treated as a slush fund to cover holes in other departments’ budgets.
Katy Chakrabortty
Head of policy & advocacy, Oxfam GB
