The Conservative Government’s decision to cut development spending has done extraordinary damage to Britain’s reputation with our allies and partners from across the globe.

In a week which will see the eyes of the world on the UK as we host the G7, now is the time for leadership - but instead, the Conservatives want Britain to hide from its responsibilities during a global pandemic. Tomorrow will see a potential vote on an amendment to the Advanced Research and Invention Agency Bill, aiming to hold the Government to the 0.7% pledge. We have a moral duty to the world’s poorest.@LibDems proudly passed a law to force Govts to spend 0.7% of national income on aid.We oppose @BorisJohnson⁩’s plans to break our law and harm millions. On Monday @LibDems we will vote to defeat him👇 https://t.co/E1Vb3cmVuq — Ed Davey MP 🔶🇪🇺 (@EdwardJDavey) June 3, 2021 If Tory MPs vote to cut the development budget, they will be breaking a promise to constituents and to the world’s poorest. Every Conservative MP stood on a manifesto commitment to the 0.7% target. If they vote to cut the development budget next week, they will be breaking a promise to their constituents and to the world’s poorest. They will be making a mockery of the Government’s global ambitions. The Liberal Democrats have advocated for the UK’s international development commitments for almost sixty years. We were the first UK political party to adopt the 0.7% target, and in 2015 we enshrined it in law. Today, we will vote to reinstate this crucial target. International development spending protects the most vulnerable people around the world and gives them a better chance at life. From defeating Covid-19 to tackling climate change, this is in our national interest.