Ed Miliband wants to save the world. He’ll have do it with a threadbare Foreign Office.
The former energy secretary will have to wrestle with slashed budgets and disgruntled staff.
Ed Miliband, a former energy secretary, has been appointed as the new Foreign Secretary with a strong focus on climate change and international aid. However, his efforts face significant challenges, including a shrinking foreign office and budget cuts. Miliband's predecessor, Keir Starmer, reduced the U.K.'s aid budget from 0.5% to 0.3% of gross national income, despite Labour's pledge to reach the United Nations' 0.7% target.
Burnham's tenure saw the FCDO's staff holding a 15-year strike due to a departmental restructure that could lead to job losses. Some Labour MPs doubt Miliband's ability to restore the U.K.'s international standing, citing budget cuts and staff reductions. They argue that despite Miliband's commitment to climate policy, there are no resources to support his ambitions.
Miliband's focus on climate change is acknowledged by some Labour MPs, including Sarah Champion, who emphasizes its impact on global poverty. However, concerns remain about the lack of levers available to the foreign secretary due to the FCDO's budget constraints. NGOs and Labour development advocates express worry about the lack of resources, pointing to the loss of expertise and political emphasis on development under the Conservative government's abolition of the Department for International Development.
Despite these challenges, there is some optimism. Kirsty McNeill, chosen as the junior international development minister by Miliband and Burnham, is seen as having a good understanding of the importance of international development. However, concerns remain about the department's hollowed-out state and whether Miliband can overcome these obstacles to make a meaningful impact.
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