Aylesbury Lib Dems accuse Rob Butler of breaking promises and betraying world's poorest

Cllr Steven Lambert, Liberal Democrat Leader on Buckinghamshire Council, has accused Rob Butler, Aylesbury's Conservative MP, for abandoning their election commitment on international development spending by voting to maintain the UK's cut on foreign aid spending, which will endanger the lives of people around the globe.

In the 2019 General Election, Conservative MPs including Rob Butler stood on a manifesto promise to "proudly maintain our commitment to spend 0.7 per cent of GNI on development".

This week, the Government won a vote in Parliament to continue their recently announced annual £4bn cut of Britain's international development spending from 0.7% to 0.5% GNI for at least 5 years.

Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Aylesbury, Steven Lambert, has written to Rob Butler saying that he "has broken a promise to your constituents and to the world's poorest."

Aylesbury Cllr Steven Lambert said:

"Aylesbury needs an MP who will keep their word. When Rob Butler stood for Parliament in 2019, he pledged to support the 0.7% target on aid spending. He has callously broken his promise and abandoned millions of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged people in our world.

"Rob Butler's vote will have an enormous impact on the most vulnerable, costing lives, stopping girls from going to school and putting a wrecking ball through vital projects like tackling the climate crisis.

"The Liberal Democrats have supported international development spending for over sixty years and put the 0.7% target into law in 2015. It is the right thing to do, both for the UK, and those who need our help. Rob Butler has voted to end that commitment. It is wrong."

Liberal Democrat Foreign Affairs and International Development Spokesperson Layla Moran MP said:

"Every Conservative MP stood on a manifesto commitment to the 0.7% target. They have now voted to cut the development budget for at least the next five years, if not more. It will do irreparable damage to Britain's reputation across the globe. Now is the time for leadership - but instead, the Conservatives want Britain to hide from its responsibilities during a global pandemic.

"Conservative MPs have broken their promise to the world's poorest and to the British people and, as we saw in the Chesham and Amersham by-election, voters in the blue wall won't forget that. These events make a mockery of Global Britain.

"Liberal Democrats will continue to campaign to reinstate the 0.7% target, which we enshrined in law. Foreign aid spending protects the most vulnerable people around the world and gives them a better chance at life. This is not over."