Tories open door to changing definition of international aid

Theresa May has opened the door to changing the definition of foreign aid while continuing to meet the 0.7 percent target, raising fears funds will be diverted from some of the world's poorest.

Despite reports of an internal battle within the Conservative party over whether to drop Britain's spending commitment, the Prime Minister quashed speculation last month, saying the UK would honour the UN-backed target.

But the party's manifesto – published on Thursday - adds Britain will attempt to renegotiate the rules of development assistance. "If that does not work, we will change the law to allow us to use a better definition of development spending, while continuing to meet our 0.7 percent target," the manifesto adds.

Last year ministers were accused of planning to privatise much of the aid budget, after unveiling plans to funnel the money through its private equity arm. The manifesto states: "There are still ways that we can improve the way taxpayers' money is used to help the world's most vulnerable people. We do not believe that international definitions of development assistance always help in determining how much money should be spent, on whom and for what purpose.

"So we will work with like-minded countries to change the rules so that they are updated and better reflect the breadth our assistance around the world. If that does not work, we will change the law to allow us to use a better definition of development spending, while continuing to meet our 0.7 percent target."

It adds that Britain's commitment protects the countries interests by "building a safer, healthier, more prosperous world" and that the party "will maintain the commitment to spend 0.7 percent of our gross national income on assistance to developing nations and international emergencies".

The manifesto also commits the UK to significantly increase funding of UK-led medical and technical research into the biggest threats to global health and prosperity. The aid target of spending 0.7 per cent of GNI on development assistance is unpopular with some right-wing newspapers and politicians, but was supported by David Cameron's government as a way of helping the poorest.

Speaking to reporters after visiting a toothpaste factory in her Maidenhead constituency last month, the Prime Minister confirmed her party would stick to the pledge.