Valerie Vaz urges government not to cut Foreign Office funding 

Valerie Vaz opened the debate in Westminster Hall on the funding of the Foreign Office, telling MPs that “the essence of democracy needs the survival and enhancement of this great office of state”. 

Vaz raised concerns surrounding reports in December that the Foreign Office could face a 10% cut despite prime minister Boris Johnson calling these reports “fake news”.

The Labour MP underlined the importance of avoiding cuts to the Foreign Office in the context of the new “Global Britain” and Ukraine war.