In defence of the foreign aid cut

It says something for the persuasive powers of former international development secretary, Andrew Mitchell, that he mustered enough potential votes to inflict defeat on Boris Johnson’s government, if only his amendment had been permitted and a vote had been held.

Mitchell’s consolation prize, awarded by the Speaker in recognition of the strength of feeling in the Commons, is an emergency debate on what would have been the substance of his amendment: to reinstate foreign aid at 0.7 per cent of GDP from next year, rather than the reduction to 0.5 per cent that was set in the Budget. 

The rift this row has exposed among Conservative MPs could embarrass the Prime Minister as he prepares to host G7 leaders in Cornwall. But how damaging will this first serious rebellion of the Johnson premiership really be?

Not as damaging, I suggest, as Mitchell and his supporters in politics, the NGO world and sections of the media would like it to be.