Christian Aid: Rishi Sunak must re-set government's approach

Rishi Sinak - official portrait

Source: Christian Aid

Responding to the news that Rishi Sunak has become the next Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Chief Executive of Christian Aid Patrick Watt said: "In the face of the worst global cost of living crisis in a generation, the new Prime Minister must re-set the government's approach. We need a commitment that he will not balance the books on the back of the poorest people, either at home or abroad.

"With COP27 on the horizon, Rishi Sunak must show leadership on the climate crisis by supporting a swift just transition to net zero while also urgently helping the millions of people on the brink of famine in East Africa by restoring the aid budget."

"We would urge the prime minister to protect the diminishing aid budget from any further cuts."

Sunak was chancellor of the exchequer in 2021 when the government reduced its aid spending from 0.7 per cent of gross national income to 0.5 per cent, wiping billions of pounds from internal development charity budgets.