Scotland's alliance of organisations which tackle global poverty and promote international development have criticised the decision by the Prime Minister to downgrade a key ministerial role in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
It is among a growing number of charities in the sector across the UK who are raising objections to the move which they fear indicates less importance is being placed on international development by the government.
Former Scotland Office minister Kirsty McNeill, who worked as an executive director for Save the Children before becoming MP for Mid Lothian in 2024, was appointed as minister for international development and Africa by Andy Burnham last week.
But unlike her predecessor Jenny Chapman - an ally of Sir Keir Starmer who was sacked as minister for international development and Africa by the new Prime Minister in the reshuffle - and fellow new foreign office minister Hamish Falconer - Ms McNeill will not attend Cabinet.
The decision for Ms McNeill not to attend Cabinet was last week criticised by the aid agency Oxfam as well as the SNP and the Scottish Greens.
There is already unhappiness in the international development sector over the UK Government's failure to spend 0.7% of gross national income on development work.
The UK met this target - set by the United Nations - from 2013 to 2020, but spending dropped to 0.5% in 2021 and further reductions are planned down to 0.3% by 2027.
Mr Burnham came under attack last week for using some of the international aid budget to pay for cheaper bus fares in England, cutting a fare cap from £3 per journey to £2 from next year, funding the policy by changing international climate donations into repayable loans.
The switch allowed the government to borrow more against those loans without violating its borrowing rules. But experts said it will also leave people in the poorest parts of the world more vulnerable to the effects of the climate crisis.
Last night, Frances Guy, the chief executive officer of Scotland's International Development Alliance, added to growing criticism which comes as the previous Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer diverting some international development funds to pay for defence.
“Scotland’s International Development Alliance warmly welcomes the appointment of Kirsty McNeill as minister of state for international development and Africa. She brings an in-depth understanding of debt justice and of civil society to the post," Ms Guy told The Herald.
"It is regrettable that she will not be attending Cabinet as that seems to be a clear signal that this government, like its predecessor, fails to understand the importance of global justice in dealing with the problems of climate change and global conflict.
"The wellbeing of people in Scotland and the rest of the UK depends on the wellbeing of others around the world. We urge the government to reinstate its commitments to overseas development aid and international climate finance as soon as possible”.
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Lorraine Currie, CEO of SCIAF, said: “The new International Development Minister comes to her role with a huge depth of experience, but in this vital role we need all hands on deck and she really should have a seat on the Cabinet.
“Nevertheless, it is heartening to hear the new Foreign Secretary’s promise to place climate and development at the heart of UK Foreign policy, and we look forward to refreshed ambition in this area.
"We hope to see a roadmap for returning to 0.7% of aid spending published as soon as possible, and in the meantime, for the UK to bring in new legislation to address the terrible debt burden holding back many developing countries.
"Action on debt won’t cost the UK taxpayer a penny - but it will free up billions for poorer countries to invest in health and education.”
Fionna Smyth, Director Campaigns, Policy, and International Programmes at War on Want, told The Herald: "We welcome Kirsty McNeill’s appointment as Minister for Development, and particularly her focus on climate, energy and international finance.
"At a time when the planet is burning, wildfires are sweeping across Europe, and a just green transition is essential to global development, her first decision must be to provide sufficient climate finance in the form of grants, not loans, so that countries in the Global South are not pushed deeper into debt.
"However, the downgrading of the development ministerial role to a non-Cabinet position is deeply disappointing and sends the wrong message.
"If the UK is serious about becoming a global leader on development and building on the climate leadership shown by Ed Miliband, development must have political leadership and influence at the highest level of government."
Meanwhile, Anushree Rao, Director of Advocacy and Institutional Relationships at Concern Worldwide, also expressed disappointment that Ms McNeill would not attend Cabinet.
Ms Rao welcomed the appointments of Mr Miliband as foreign secretary and Ms McNeill as minister for international development.
"While we would have hoped the minister for international Development role would be represented in Cabinet, we are very pleased to see such a strong appointments to both this role and that of the Foreign Secretary.
"We hope together they will reestablish the UK as a leader on development, humanitarian assistance, and climate action and reinstate UK aid to 0.7%."
The foreign secretary, working closely with the minister for development, will provide senior representation for development issues at Cabinet meetings.
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