UK Aid in jeopardy as FCO merges with DfID

The merger of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) with the Department for International Development (DfID) has renewed fears over Britain’s overseas aid budget.

FCO and DfID set to merge as part of plans to create new foreign policy 'super department'

In a major announcement today PM Boris Johnson has set forth plans to fully align UK Aid with the strategic goals of British diplomacy.

Earlier today the FCO tweeted the creation of the new Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office which it claims will make the UK “an even stronger force for good in the world”.

— Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (@FCDOGovUK) September 2, 2020 ">http://

Today we bring together our diplomacy and development work. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office will make the UK an even stronger force for good in the world. #FCDO pic.twitter.com/990TCpCL9W

— Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (@FCDOGovUK) September 2, 2020

But according to Sky News’ foreign affairs editor, Deborah Haynes, DfID staffers view the development as an “FCO takeover” rather than a “merger of equals”.

— Deborah Haynes (@haynesdeborah) September 2, 2020 ">http://

NEW: @DominicRaab again tries to brush off report (by my v well-informed former @thetimes colleagues) that 🇬🇧overseas aid £ could be diverted to buy military/spy kit. He says "Not an element of it has reflected or characterised the conversations I've had across government" #FCDO

— Deborah Haynes (@haynesdeborah) September 2, 2020

Quoting a Whitehall source, Haynes claims there are “mutterings” about how the merged service will still be called the “diplomatic service” as opposed to the “diplomatic and development service”.

In addition, there is resentment that the title of the cabinet minister in charge of the new super department – Dominic Raab – will remain as Foreign Secretary, bereft of any mention of a development role or responsibility.

“Let’s face it – no one is going to say [‘Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Secretary’]. It would take half an hour”, Haynes’ Whitehall source is alleged to have quipped.

For his part, Raab has dismissed as “tittle tattle” reports that the UK’s £15 billion aid budget could be diverted to defense and intelligence spending.

Despite all the signs and indications to the contrary, Raab is adamant that the UK is committed to spending 0.7 percent of national income on foreign aid.

The Times (September 02) claims that the Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, is planning to divert “billions of pounds” from foreign aid to cover the cost of upgrades to the UK’s intelligence and defense capabilities.  

The Chancellor has reportedly told cabinet colleagues that increased spending on “enhanced cyberweapons” and “Artificial Intelligence-enabled drones” must be met from the “aid budget”.

The treasury’s reported scramble to eviscerate the aid budget is taking place against the backdrop of a review of UK defense and security policy (which is set to be completed in November), in addition to the comprehensive spending review (undertaken every three years to adjust departmental budgets) which could be finalized as early as next month.

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