UK Development Minister Vows to Boost Aid and Forge New Partnerships

Labour's development minister Kirsty McNeill, who represents Midlothian, reiterated the party's commitment to return to the 0.7% of gross national income aid benchmark, noting that progress will depend on fiscal circumstances. Drawing on her background with Gordon Brown and Save the Children, she argued that increased aid yields greater impact, especially in saving children’s lives. In an upcoming speech at the New Economics Foundation, she will unveil a £15 million humanitarian crisis fund aimed at preventive measures for countries most at risk from El Niño, such as livestock vaccinations and cash assistance for farmers.

McNeill described aid as a vital instrument for five security dimensions—health, climate, food, human and economic—and signaled plans to reform multilateral aid institutions and create bespoke partnerships. She also referenced the foreign secretary Ed Miliband's intention to strengthen development and climate work, including taking the UK seat on the World Bank board.