Bond statement in response to Vicky Ford MP being appointed minister for development in the FCDO

Last night, new Prime Minister Liz Truss appointed Vicky Ford MP in the newly created role of Minister for Development in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. Ford was previously the Minister for Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean from December 2021 to 6 September 2022. She was first elected as the Conservative MP for Chelmsford in 2017.

Responding to the announcement, Bond chief executive Stephanie Draper said: 
“The prime minister’s decision to appoint a dedicated minister for development with a seat in cabinet is a welcome step and one that we had been advocating for since the merger of DfID and the Foreign Office two years ago.
“This move will help ensure international development is integral to the work of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. As former minister for Africa in the department, Vicky Ford is well-equipped to take on the critical tasks ahead.
“Bold leadership will be needed to address simultaneous emergencies such as the food crisis in East Africa and around the world, the ongoing economic and humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, and climate-driven emergencies like the catastrophic floods in Pakistan.”
“The cuts to UK aid have slashed life-saving programmes globally. The prime minister should lift the cap of 0.5% of GNI for UK aid and establish a clear plan to get us back to the legally enshrined 0.7%. This is the only way for the UK to reclaim its reputation as a global partner when it comes to supporting marginalised communities facing inequality, poverty, conflict and climate change.”