UK Parliament Speaker Rules Out Vote On Government's Foreign Aid Cut
Mohammad Ali (@ChaudhryMAli88) Published June 08, 2021 | 12:12 AM
UK parliament speaker Lindsay Hoyle temporally thwarted on Monday a rebellion by 30 Conservative lawmakers over the Executive's decision to cut foreign aid as he ruled that an amendment seeking to give the House of Commons a say on the matter was "out of order."
LONDON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 07th June, 2021) UK parliament speaker Lindsay Hoyle temporally thwarted on Monday a rebellion by 30 Conservative lawmakers over the Executive's decision to cut foreign aid as he ruled that an amendment seeking to give the House of Commons a say on the matter was "out of order."
"Amendments and new clauses which are not within the scope of the bill are out of order," Hoyle said about the proposal tabled by former minister Andrew Mitchell.
In November, 2020, UK Finance Minister Rishi Sunak announced a temporary reduction in the UK aid budget from 0.7 percent to 0.5 percent of the country's income, citing the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the national economy, but without giving Parliament the opportunity to vote on the issue.
Five months later, UK Foreign Minister Dominic Raab set out the allocations for the overseas development assistance spending for 2021-22, confirming the governments decision to slash 4 billion ($5.6 billion) of its annual foreign aid commitment.
Although he dismissed the Conservative-backed amendment, which if passed would have inflicted a humiliating defeat to Prime Minister Boris Johnson's government, the speaker recalled that the House of Commons has not had an opportunity for a decisive vote on the matter, and said that he would accept applications from lawmakers for an emergency debate.
"I expect that the government should find a way to have this important matter debated and allow the House to formally take an effective decision," Hoyle said.
Reacting to the speaker's decision, Mitchell accused the government of disrespecting the House of Commons by avoiding a vote on the foreign aid cut.
International charities and non-governmental organizations have claimed that the UK's decision to slash 0.2 percent of its financial support to the developing world would add up to the suffering of millions of people that are already trying to survive the COVID-19 pandemic.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Mired in crisis, Boeing reports another loss
Session Awarding Ceremony 2024 held at Cadet College Muzaffarabad
Austrian ski great Hirscher to make comeback under Dutch flag
Pakistan, Japan agrees to convene 'Economic Policy Dialogue'
FM Dar conveys deepest sympathy on torrential rains devastation in UAE
Spain PM Sanchez says weighing resignation after wife's graft probe
Tennis: ATP/WTA Madrid Open results - 1st update
Long-lost Klimt portrait auctioned off for 30 mn euros
Osaka seals first win on clay since 2022 in Madrid
Earthquake jolts Karachi
Sindh minister orders operation after attack on police in Ghotki
TikTok to fight US ban law in courts
More Stories From World
-
Football: English Championship table
3 hours ago -
Time for 'democratic transition' in Venezuela: opposition candidate to AFP
3 hours ago -
Spain's Pedro Sanchez : a risk-taker with a flair for survival
3 hours ago -
Football: French Ligue 1 table
4 hours ago -
Nadal will only play French Open if he can 'compete well'
4 hours ago -
Ukraine, Israel, TikTok: the massive aid package before US Congress
4 hours ago
-
TikTok to fight US ban law in courts
4 hours ago -
Football: French Ligue 1 results
4 hours ago -
Spain PM Sanchez says weighing resignation after wife's graft probe
5 hours ago -
Long-lost Klimt portrait auctioned off for 30 mn euros
5 hours ago -
TikTok to fight US ban law in courts
6 hours ago -
Anger among Ukrainians in Poland as Kyiv halts passport renewals
6 hours ago