Which Bolton MPs voted in favour of foreign aid cuts

MPs voted by 333 to 298, a majority of 35, to back the reduction in aid funding from 0.7 per cent of gross national income (GNI) to 0.5 per cent – a cut equivalent to around £4.4 billion for this year.

Two Bolton MPs voted in favour with the government to make this cut, with another voting against this.

The two that voted in favour were the Conservative MPs. Chris Green, MP for Bolton West and Atherton, and Mark Logan, MP for Bolton North East.

Bolton West and Atherton MP, Chris Green

Former prime minister Theresa May was one of 24 Tories to join opposition parties in voting against the cut, warning that some of the world’s poorest people will die as a result of the decision to slash spending on overseas aid.

Bolton North East MP, Mark Logan

The Bolton MP to vote against the government was Yasmin Qureshi, Labour MP for Bolton South East.

Ms Qureshi argued before the vote that the cut in foreign aid spending went against the idea of a 'global Britain'.

She said: "As fellow MPs debate the foreign aid cut I think it is worth assessing what this will impact in tangible terms.

"Cuts in food aid which harms economic security. Unintended pregnancies amongst young women and children. Reduction in soft power leadership - "Global Britain"? "Increased maternal mortality rates across the world. Entrenched gender and societal norms which the UK has been at the forefront of reforming. Negative impact on the sustainable development goals which the UK agreed to work towards.

"The UK government desperately need to address this issue and work towards reinstating the 0.7% target at the earliest possible moment.

Bolton North East MP, Yasmin Qureshi

"In the midst of a pandemic to turn away from the world and look inwards is shameful. Even more so as we claim to be "Global Britain"."

Ms Qureshi tweeted after the vote passed in Parliament: "Disappointing result in the aid cut vote, passing with a majority of 35. This will impact the world's poorest in their time of need.

"In the midst of a pandemic to turn our backs whilst claiming we are "Global Britain" is shameful."

The commitment to 0.7 per cent is written in law and restated in the 2019 Conservative manifesto, but was ditched as the Government attempted to save money in response to the economic carnage caused by coronavirus.

The 0.5 per cent level means around £10 billion will be spent on aid this year.

Mr Logan said: “Our residents have had an extremely tough pandemic, and I have voted in a way that reflects the views on the ground here in Bolton.

“When we as a country have pulled through this massive economic and societal challenge I will be prepared to review our getting back to previous levels of international aid spending: aiming to prosper at home and bolster those in difficult circumstances abroad.”

Mr Green added: “Those supporters of the arbitrary 0.7 per cent target for foreign aid spending have known that we have been giving money for many years to nuclear armed states, some of whom have space programmes.

“I think this is wrong for British taxpayers to be forced to cough up the cash to these countries when we have so many pressing concerns at home. Clearly there are disasters and events where the British Government should intervene to support vulnerable people, but we also ought to recognise that the British people are among the most generous in the world during times of need.”