ED MILIBAND TAKES WORLD BANK BOARD SEAT ON CLIMATE AGENDA

Ed Miliband has taken up the UK's seat on the World Bank board, a position typically held by a junior minister. The foreign secretary said he is assuming the role of UK governor to the Bank to exercise "personal leadership" on overseas aid and global finance, stating that international development and the climate crisis are "central" to government policy. Miliband previously served as energy and net zero secretary under Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. He said the appointment sends "an unambiguous signal that this government is serious about its global leadership on development and climate".

The move comes as the UK reduces its aid spending substantially. Official figures indicate aid spending will fall from 0.5 per cent to 0.3 per cent of Gross National Income through to 2029, representing cuts totalling some £6.5bn between 2024/5 and 2028/9. Nine African countries are set to see bilateral aid cut by more than 80 per cent. Kenya faces a 93 per cent reduction in UK foreign aid, Tanzania 91 per cent, Mozambique 90 per cent, Malawi 90 per cent, and Zambia 88 per cent. Total bilateral aid to African countries will fall from £1.6bn to under £700m. Climate aid will also decrease, from £11.6bn across five years to 2026 to £6bn over the next three years.

Aid to the Democratic Republic of Congo, currently experiencing an Ebola outbreak, faces a 29 per cent cut, and aid to Lebanon a 58 per cent reduction. Funding to fragile and conflict-affected states will fall by 34 per cent, aid to least developed countries by 49 per cent, and aid to Africa overall by 56 per cent. Long-standing UK partners including Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania and Mozambique will see their aid relationships reduced to £5m or less, or virtually eliminated.