Kirsty McNeill, appointed development minister in the new Labour government, said she is "a huge believer in aid" as she recommitted to Labour’s manifesto promise to return the United Kingdom to spending 0.7% of national income on overseas assistance.
Speaking about how the ministry will approach that pledge, McNeill used the phrase "sweat the asset" to signal an emphasis on extracting greater impact and value from available funds. She said that strengthening the effectiveness and accountability of aid programmes would be central to allay voter doubts about the use of public money overseas.
McNeill declined to set a timetable for reaching the 0.7% target, repeating the government line that it will work towards that level "when fiscal circumstances allow." The comment underlines the Treasury constraints that the government says will shape the sequencing and timing of policy commitments.
A former adviser to Gordon Brown and a senior executive at the charity Save the Children, McNeill brings a mix of Whitehall and humanitarian sector experience to the brief. Ministers and campaigners will be watching for how her office translates the manifesto pledge into concrete spending plans and oversight mechanisms.
The pledge to restore the 0.7% target has been a prominent element of Labour’s platform. By foregrounding value for money and accountability, McNeill signalled an intent to respond to public scepticism about overseas aid while leaving the question of timing tied to broader fiscal priorities.