The most searched questions about Yvette Cooper as Foreign Secretary — answered with data.
Why is the UK's aid budget still below 0.7% GNI?
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The UK legally committed to spending 0.7% of gross national income on overseas development aid. This was cut to 0.5% by the Conservative government in 2021 due to Covid pressures. Despite Labour's pledge to restore it, the Treasury has resisted, citing fiscal constraints. FCDO currently spends approximately £12.1bn — around 0.5% GNI. No timeline for restoration has been set by the current administration.
What is the UK doing about the Gaza conflict?
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The UK abstained on four key UN Security Council votes relating to the Gaza conflict, drawing criticism from humanitarian organisations and opposition MPs. The Foreign Secretary has called for a ceasefire and increased humanitarian access, but critics argue the UK's position is weakened by its continued arms export licences and reluctance to impose further sanctions. The UK has provided £100m in humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Why were Saudi arms sales resumed?
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A temporary pause on certain arms export licences to Saudi Arabia was lifted following a government review. The decision was justified on strategic partnership grounds, citing UK-Saudi trade agreements worth an estimated £2.8bn. Human rights organisations condemned the reversal, arguing it contradicts the government's stated values-led foreign policy and potentially breaches UK obligations under the Arms Trade Treaty.
What is the Commonwealth and what does FCDO do for it?
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The Commonwealth is a 56-member association of mostly former British territories, representing 2.5 billion people. FCDO manages the UK's relationship with Commonwealth nations through diplomatic missions, development aid, trade facilitation, and shared governance standards. The UK contributes to the Commonwealth Secretariat and Commonwealth Development Corporation. FCDO's Commonwealth engagement budget accounts for approximately £340m of its total 2026/27 spending.
How does the UK compare to other G7 nations on overseas development?
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The UK at 0.5% GNI is below the UN 0.7% target and falls behind Germany (0.6%) and France (0.55%) among G7 peers. Japan, Italy and Canada spend proportionally less. The UK was once a global leader in development spending and met the 0.7% target from 2013 to 2020. Restoration to 0.7% would require approximately £4.4bn in additional annual spending.