An article in the Sun today (Friday 13 July) titled “Aid Boss: Brits don’t get point” highlights comments made by DFID’s Permanent Secretary Matthew Rycroft at an event held in London yesterday (Thursday 12 July) on aid and development post Brexit.
The article offers little clarity on the broader matters that were discussed by the Permanent Secretary on aid spend.
Taxpayers should be confident in the knowledge that the UK has a proven track record in demonstrating that our aid works.
In a world of instability and serious threats, Britain is a world leader in working to build a more prosperous and more stable future for us all.
How we help the world’s poorest can at times be a complex matter to understand. It is important that we continue to explain to taxpayers that by investing less than one percent of our national income in aid we are saving the lives of millions of vulnerable people suffering from severe drought and starvation and violence, while at the same time making the UK healthier and safer which is firmly in our national interest.
Speaking at the event DFID’s Permanent Secretary Matthew Rycroft said:
“We have massive impact around the world and between ourselves and other donors we have helped to lift a billion people out of poverty in recent years.”