Latest news with #InternationalDevelopmentCommittee
The National
9 hours ago
- Politics
- The National
Commons committee sets out 'concerns' over arms exports to Israel
The International Development Committee sent an eight-page letter to Jonathan Reynolds and Foreign Secretary David Lammy over the decision to exempt components for F-35 fighter jets from suspended arms exports to Israel. The committee raised fears that those weapons components could be used in attacks by Israel on aid workers and humanitarian infrastructure on Gaza. Chair Sarah Champion, Labour MP for Rotherham, wrote: 'As the Committee identified in its report, there are a number of avenues for accountability in response to violations of IHL (international humanitarian law), including the suspension of arms export licences. READ MORE: Patrick Harvie and Angus Robertson face-off over Israel divestment 'I remain concerned that there is a real risk that weapon components, manufactured in the UK, could be used in attacks, including those on aid workers or humanitarian infrastructure.' The MP noted that Foreign Office minister Stephen Doughty previously claimed that stopping F-35 exports to Israel would require the 'entire programme' to be suspended as it is 'highly integrated'. However, Champion insisted it was 'fundamental' that the UK Government adheres to international law. 'I am concerned by the decision to exempt F-35 components from the suspension of arms export licences, given your assessment that there are 'clear risks' of serious violations of IHL by Israel in Gaza,' she wrote. The MP then noted the UK's obligations under the Genocide Convention, asking if ministers accepted that the duty to prevent genocide has been triggered. She asked: 'If so, at what point was this duty triggered? If not, why not?' Champion also noted the UK Government's obligations under the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) which states that it is 'strictly prohibited' for a state transferring arms where the transfer would 'violate its relevant international obligations under international agreements to which it is a Party'. Exports are also banned if the arms 'would be used in the commission of genocide, crimes against humanity, grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions of 1949, attacks directed against civilian objects or civilians protected as such, or other war crimes,' Champion added. The MP put several questions to ministers, including if it accepts exporting F-35 components is incompatible with its international legal obligations, and if it accepts Israel is using the components to commit war crimes. Another question asks: 'What legal authority does the Government rely upon to support its position that a positive contribution to peace and security is to be balanced against a clear risk of the arms being used to commit serious violations of IHL/IHRL?' READ MORE: YouGov poll predicts result in every Scottish seat – see the full map Champion asked the ministers to reply by July 11. The UK Government has been contacted for comment. It comes as a legal challenge over the UK's arms exports to Israel is currently underway. We told in January how the Labour Government refused to review Israel's access to F-35 parts exported from the UK despite evidence that the planes have been used to bomb 'safe zones' in Gaza. In September 2024, Labour blocked around 30 of 350 UK arms export licences to Israel after accepting that there existed a 'clear risk that they might be used to commit or facilitate a serious violation of international humanitarian law'. However, parts for F-35 fighter jets were specifically excluded – despite media confirmation that the jets had been used by Israel to bomb the Al-Mawasi humanitarian zone in Gaza in July 2024.
The Independent
05-03-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Labour MPs warn aid budget cuts could allow greater role for Russia and China
Labour MPs have warned aid budget cuts could result in Britain's departure from the world stage, with Russia and China filling the void. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer was also accused of 'taking the axe' to Britain's 'most effective tool for reducing global conflicts' by Labour's Sarah Champion, who chairs the International Development Committee. While several MPs welcomed the Government's decision to increase defence spending to 2.5% of the size of the economy from April 2027, ministers faced calls to reconsider the plan to achieve this by slashing development assistance aid from its current level of 0.5% of gross national income (GNI) to 0.3% in 2027. Speaking during an estimates day debate, Ms Champion told the Commons: 'I urge the Prime Minister to recognise that if we abandon our commitments to the world in this way, we will see greater numbers of people displaced from their own homes as a result of climate disasters, poverty and war. 'More people will lose hope and instead look to extreme ideologies for the answer, and civil societies will no longer have the skills to hold rogue governments to account. 'It concerns me greatly, as it should the whole House, that the Government has yet to carry out an assessment of the impact of their decisions, which is being rushed through without proper scrutiny.' Ms Champion also said a 'scandalously large amount' of official development assistance (ODA) has been diverted to the Home Office and there should be a cap on how much ODA can be spent supporting asylum seekers and refugees in the UK. Labour's Dame Emily Thornberry, who chairs the Foreign Affairs Committee, said: 'Under this Government we are taking a lead again, so the question is, are we going to step up to this challenge? Which we're more than capable of doing, but we can't just do it on two Chewits, a button and a postage stamp.' She added: 'I am concerned these ODA cuts won't be the last of these challenges, there are also rumours that the Foreign Office will, on top of that, be expecting cuts of between 2 and 11%. In that scenario, it would be selling its businesses, its buildings, will the embassies shrink?' Dame Emily said she hopes there will be an 'enormous amount of work' being done into the details of the cuts, adding: 'I fear we may be looking back at this time and we may say to ourselves, this is when Britain left the world and yet it really should be the time when we're able to say Britain is back, and we're back as a force for good.' Conservative former international development secretary Andrew Mitchell said: 'Who is it who will fill the gap in all of this? It will be China and Russia. And of course it will be music to the ears of the many terrorist organisations which exist across Sub-Saharan Africa.' Labour MP Abtisam Mohamed (Sheffield Central) said UK aid 'makes the world safer and it saves lives', noting: 'Cutting the aid budget will undercut our ability to build global partnerships and alliances. 'When the UK helps countries to adjust to climate change, to grow and to prosper, we build our relationships and our influence. When countries like ours withdraw, China and Russia stand ready to step in.' Labour MP Blair McDougall (East Renfrewshire), who worked in the aid sector for 10 years, questioned what the UK's 'offer to the global south' is now if it is no longer a 'development superpower'. He said: 'We know what Russia's offer is, it's blood for gold, they will come and kill your enemies with mercenaries for you and take precious minerals out of your country. We know what it is for China, it's infrastructure in return for debt that keeps you in their power. 'We can't offer violence, we can't demand subservience, it seems to me for us it's values but values need vehicles to be projected.' Foreign Office minister Stephen Doughty said: 'Our intent is to get back to 0.7% of GNI as soon as the fiscal circumstances allow and the Prime Minister has been very, very clear about that.' He later added: 'We will continue to play a key role, doing everything we can to move towards rebuilding our capacity and remain committed to working in Sudan, in Ukraine, in Gaza, on tackling climate change, on supporting multinational efforts on global health and challenges like vaccination, of course our commitments to the Overseas Territories, too. 'And I have to really level with the House, and I hope people can see and feel this, but in this dangerous new era, the defence and national security of this country must come first. 'This is not the 1990s. This is not even 2005. 'And I cannot look at what I do every day or indeed other ministers look at every day and not recognise that we have to respond differently to the very, very serious threats facing this country, our continent and the world.'
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Labour MPs warn aid budget cuts could allow greater role for Russia and China
Labour MPs have warned aid budget cuts could result in Britain's departure from the world stage, with Russia and China filling the void. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer was also accused of 'taking the axe' to Britain's 'most effective tool for reducing global conflicts' by Labour's Sarah Champion, who chairs the International Development Committee. While several MPs welcomed the Government's decision to increase defence spending to 2.5% of the size of the economy from April 2027, ministers faced calls to reconsider the plan to achieve this by slashing development assistance aid from its current level of 0.5% of gross national income (GNI) to 0.3% in 2027. Speaking during an estimates day debate, Ms Champion told the Commons: 'I urge the Prime Minister to recognise that if we abandon our commitments to the world in this way, we will see greater numbers of people displaced from their own homes as a result of climate disasters, poverty and war. 'More people will lose hope and instead look to extreme ideologies for the answer, and civil societies will no longer have the skills to hold rogue governments to account. 'It concerns me greatly, as it should the whole House, that the Government has yet to carry out an assessment of the impact of their decisions, which is being rushed through without proper scrutiny.' Ms Champion also said a 'scandalously large amount' of official development assistance (ODA) has been diverted to the Home Office and there should be a cap on how much ODA can be spent supporting asylum seekers and refugees in the UK. Labour's Dame Emily Thornberry, who chairs the Foreign Affairs Committee, said: 'Under this Government we are taking a lead again, so the question is, are we going to step up to this challenge? Which we're more than capable of doing, but we can't just do it on two Chewits, a button and a postage stamp.' She added: 'I am concerned these ODA cuts won't be the last of these challenges, there are also rumours that the Foreign Office will, on top of that, be expecting cuts of between 2 and 11%. In that scenario, it would be selling its businesses, its buildings, will the embassies shrink?' Dame Emily said she hopes there will be an 'enormous amount of work' being done into the details of the cuts, adding: 'I fear we may be looking back at this time and we may say to ourselves, this is when Britain left the world and yet it really should be the time when we're able to say Britain is back, and we're back as a force for good.' Conservative former international development secretary Andrew Mitchell said: 'Who is it who will fill the gap in all of this? It will be China and Russia. And of course it will be music to the ears of the many terrorist organisations which exist across Sub-Saharan Africa.' Labour MP Abtisam Mohamed (Sheffield Central) said UK aid 'makes the world safer and it saves lives', noting: 'Cutting the aid budget will undercut our ability to build global partnerships and alliances. 'When the UK helps countries to adjust to climate change, to grow and to prosper, we build our relationships and our influence. When countries like ours withdraw, China and Russia stand ready to step in.' Labour MP Blair McDougall (East Renfrewshire), who worked in the aid sector for 10 years, questioned what the UK's 'offer to the global south' is now if it is no longer a 'development superpower'. He said: 'We know what Russia's offer is, it's blood for gold, they will come and kill your enemies with mercenaries for you and take precious minerals out of your country. We know what it is for China, it's infrastructure in return for debt that keeps you in their power. 'We can't offer violence, we can't demand subservience, it seems to me for us it's values but values need vehicles to be projected.' Foreign Office minister Stephen Doughty said: 'Our intent is to get back to 0.7% of GNI as soon as the fiscal circumstances allow and the Prime Minister has been very, very clear about that.' He later added: 'We will continue to play a key role, doing everything we can to move towards rebuilding our capacity and remain committed to working in Sudan, in Ukraine, in Gaza, on tackling climate change, on supporting multinational efforts on global health and challenges like vaccination, of course our commitments to the Overseas Territories, too. 'And I have to really level with the House, and I hope people can see and feel this, but in this dangerous new era, the defence and national security of this country must come first. 'This is not the 1990s. This is not even 2005. 'And I cannot look at what I do every day or indeed other ministers look at every day and not recognise that we have to respond differently to the very, very serious threats facing this country, our continent and the world.'
The Independent
05-03-2025
- Business
- The Independent
MPs write to Starmer about ‘deep concern' over aid budget cut
A cross-party committee of MPs has written to the Prime Minister about its 'deep concern' over the cut to the aid budget. Sarah Champion, chairwoman of the International Development Committee, said the 'brutal' cut to funds 'risks undermining our soft power, as well as years of progress in areas such as healthcare, education, clean water and sustainable development'. Last week Sir Keir Starmer announced that spending on defence will rise from its current 2.3% share of the economy to 2.5% in 2027. But to fund it, development assistance aid will be slashed from its current level of 0.5% of gross national income to 0.3% in 2027. In a letter to the Prime Minister on Wednesday, Ms Champion said she wanted to 'express my committee's deep concern regarding the Government's decision'. She went on: 'This brutal further cut to ODA (Official Development Assistance) risks undermining our soft power, as well as years of progress in areas such as healthcare, education, clean water and sustainable development. 'It will have dire consequences for millions of marginalised people across the world.' Labour MP Ms Champion also asked the Prime Minister to respond to a number of questions, including whether aid spending by other departments such as the Department for Education will be maintained, and what the expected impact will be on staffing levels at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. Other ministers have also been copied into the letter, including Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Foreign Secretary David Lammy. Ms Champion said in a statement she is 'deeply concerned' about the cut. She said: 'One of the cheapest and most effective ways to prevent conflict is to address the causes of instability before they spiral into violence. 'That's what international aid can do. 'In reality, cutting aid to pay for increased defence will inevitably mean spending more money on responding to conflicts rather than investing in prevention – it should never be either/or. 'We need both to make a stable and secure world.' A Government spokesperson said: 'This Government's first duty is to keep our country safe and secure. 'The evolving global security landscape – with conflicts overseas undermining security and prosperity at home – requires us to make tough but necessary choices to protect British interests and support our allies. 'Our approach balances the UK's proud tradition of supporting the world's most vulnerable with our fundamental responsibility to protect British citizens and interests in an increasingly unstable world.'
The Independent
05-03-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Starmer faces growing concerns from MPs over ‘brutal' cuts to foreign aid budget
A cross-party committee of MPs has written to Sir Keir Starmer about its 'deep concern' over the cut to the aid budget. Sarah Champion, chairwoman of the International Development Committee, said the 'brutal' cut to funds 'risks undermining our soft power, as well as years of progress in areas such as healthcare, education, clean water and sustainable development'. Last week the prime minister announced that spending on defence will rise from its current 2.3 per cent share of the economy to 2.5 per cent in 2027. But to fund it, development assistance aid will be slashed from its current level of 0.5 per cent of gross national income to 0.3 per cent in 2027. Last week, international development minister Anneliese Dodds resigned in protest over the move. In a letter to the Prime Minister on Wednesday, Ms Champion said she wanted to 'express my committee's deep concern regarding the Government's decision'. She went on: 'This brutal further cut to ODA (Official Development Assistance) risks undermining our soft power, as well as years of progress in areas such as healthcare, education, clean water and sustainable development. 'It will have dire consequences for millions of marginalised people across the world.' Labour MP Ms Champion also asked the Prime Minister to respond to a number of questions, including whether aid spending by other departments such as the Department for Education will be maintained, and what the expected impact will be on staffing levels at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. Other ministers have also been copied into the letter, including Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Foreign Secretary David Lammy. Ms Champion said in a statement she is 'deeply concerned' about the cut. She said: 'One of the cheapest and most effective ways to prevent conflict is to address the causes of instability before they spiral into violence. 'That's what international aid can do. 'In reality, cutting aid to pay for increased defence will inevitably mean spending more money on responding to conflicts rather than investing in prevention – it should never be either/or. 'We need both to make a stable and secure world.' A Government spokesperson said: 'This Government's first duty is to keep our country safe and secure. 'The evolving global security landscape – with conflicts overseas undermining security and prosperity at home – requires us to make tough but necessary choices to protect British interests and support our allies. 'Our approach balances the UK's proud tradition of supporting the world's most vulnerable with our fundamental responsibility to protect British citizens and interests in an increasingly unstable world.'
