Spring Conference Motion
On Sunday 21 March, the LDID Motion on International Development was passed into policy. The following is a summary of the Conference debate, featuring many LDID members.
Foreign Affairs and International Development Spokesperson Layla Moran MP moved the motion, stressing its renewed commitment to spending 0.7% GNI on ODA and reversing the FCDO merger. She drew on the Lib Dems historic role in promoting the UK as a development superpower, highlighting that it was Lib Dems who called for the 0.7% in 1970 and passed the bill into law. At a time when the world’s poorest have been so adversely affected by the coronavirus pandemic, the government’s recent policy changes threaten livelihoods abroad as well as the UK’s global standing.
An amendment moved by Pippa Heylings stressed the intersection between climate change and poverty, highlighting the need for an international climate finance programme. The amended motion was endorsed by speakers sharing their expertise in development, including Nur Laiq, who emphasised the importance of UK leadership of this issue in light of hosting COP26.
Jonny Oates highlighted the unlawful nature of the decision to reduce the 0.7% without parliamentary consultation, following provisions in the International Development Act of 2015 which was steered by Lords Development Spokesperson Jeremy Purvis. This unlawfulness was underscored by Wendy Chamberlain, who emphasised the lack of ministerial representation for the ODA mandate at a time where the need is greatest, and the threat to independent oversight of aid spending through ICAI. Alan Harding argued that the Integrated Review’s emphasis on a combined approach between diplomacy, aid and trade does not account for trade-offs between each, and illuminated the fundamental issue of which interests prevail in a merged FCDO.
Charlotte Mbali spoke about the need to promote development education, or ‘Education for Global Citizenship’, to maintain the status of the UK as a development leader. Highlighting the global expertise and reputation of DFID, David Chalmers pointed to the urgent need to maintain its record of safeguarding LGBT+ rights abroad. Alessandra Rosetti spoke about the importance of multilateralism in addressing shared challenges such as the climate emergency and the coronavirus pandemic, echoing Layla’s call for global solutions to global problems.
A number of speakers quoted previous statements by Conservative parliamentarians committing to safeguarding the priorities in the motion. In summating, Alistair Fernie highlighted the strong constituency of Conservative backbenchers who continue to share Lib Dem priorities in spite of the government’s recent actions. Quoting David Cameron’s claim that the government was making a ‘moral, political and strategic mistake’, Alistair showed that the cut would result in 1 preventable death every 5 minutes and undermine the UK’s interests as a development superpower. Passing the motion must therefore form part of a concerted campaign within and beyond parliament.