Theresa May has moved to quash speculation that the government could drop its pledge to spend 0.7% of national income a year on foreign aid, saying the commitment “remains and will remain”. After days of speculation that the policy would be watered down, the prime minister said Britain should be proud of meeting the UN-backed target, but stressed the need to spend the money more effectively. “Let’s be clear, the 0.7% commitment remains and will remain,” she said during a factory visit in her Maidenhead constituency. “What we need to do, though, is to look at how that money will be spent and make sure that we are able to spend that money in the most effective way. Read more