Boris Johnson “Almost Certain” to Avoid Tory Rebellion Over Reduced Foreign Aid Budget, Sources Sure | UK News

Boris Johnson narrowly avoided a rebellion by some of his own Tory MPs over cuts to the foreign aid budget, according to Sky News.

Thirty Tories, including former Prime Minister Theresa May and four other ministers, supported a rebellion against the £ 4bn cut and had hoped to force a vote on the issue.

But a Labor source told Sky News it is “almost certain” that House of Commons clerks have decided that the amendment, which has been proposed to the Research and Research Agency bill advanced innovation, is not within the scope.

Under parliamentary procedure, the Speaker of the House of Commons, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, decides whether to select amendments and allow votes on them based on advice from his clerks.

The proposed amendment sought to force the government to commit to restoring the 0.7% target from next year – from funding for this new “high-risk” science agency that it would create. obscure legislation – if not achieved by other means.

MPs told Sky News Chancellor Rishi Sunak called colleagues on Sunday to convince them not to vote for the amendment.

Britain’s aid spending was cut by the Chancellor last November in what was supposed to be a temporary measure, but without a vote in parliament. Mr Sunak told MPs at the time that keeping him at the top level “cannot be justified for the British people”.