Gov't Faces Crunch Vote On Foreign Aid Cuts

Later today the gov't face potential defeat in the House of Commons after announcing late yesterday afternoon that later today (13 July) it would be holding an unexpected vote on the planned reduction in foreign aid spending. The reduction in aid spending it set to be implemented due to the impact of the pandemic on the UK economy. However, there has been significant opposition to the move from a sizeable number of MPs from Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Conservative party, including former PM Theresa May.

• The debate on the aid cut is due to start at around 1245BST (0745ET, 1345CET) and continue for three hours, with the vote at around 1600BST (1100ET, 1700CET).
• In an attempt to get some of the rebel Conservatives back on the gov'ts side, Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak has offered a compromise deal where aid spending would be restored from 0.5% to 0.7% of GNI when the UK is not borrowing for day-to-day spending or underlying national debt is falling. Politico reported sight of a letter earlier today stating that for 20 potential rebels this had made enough assurances to stop them voting against the gov't.
• However, it remains to be seen whether this has done enough to stop Johnson's gov't being defeated (despite its 82-seat working majority in the Commons). It should be noted that while a defeat would prove embarrassing for the PM, it is very unlikely to prove a resigning issue or trigger a vote of no confidence in the gov't.