Email UK Parliament

Priority of the Official Development Assistance Budget

​Dear [Your MP’s Name],

I hope this email finds you well. 

As a local constituent and supporter of The Borgen Project, I am reaching out to you personally to request your support in prioritising the Official Development Aid (ODA) budget in Parliament and beyond. 

I have reviewed the report of the House of Commons which stated that the UK’s support for ODA will not be increased to the target of 0.7% and will be reduced further to increase the UK’s defence spending. This is a cause for concern. Given the current political climate, ongoing conflicts and the cost-of-living crisis, it is critical that we do not lose sight of those who are most in need – those living in extreme poverty. The ODA target is an essential step towards securing a stable future for these individuals and opening new markets for UK companies.

As my elected representative, I believe you have the power to help make a difference on this issue. I would like to request that you take the following actions:

1) Write to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and HM Treasury to express your support for the campaign to raise the ODA budget back to 0.7%.

2) Raise the issue in written and oral questions in the House of Commons, including any committees on which you sit in.

3) Use your communication channels, including social media and relevant meetings, to publicly pledge your support to secure funding for ODA programmes that support fighting global poverty, such as the Prosperity Fund.

4) Work with fellow MP’s and stakeholders to build a cross-party consensus in support of the campaign.

5) Lobby the government to allocate more resources to ODA by arguing that the UK’s international reputation and influence are at stake.

I believe that your support can play a crucial role in securing funding for ODA programmes that support fighting global poverty, and I hope that you will consider my request.

Thank you for your attention to this matter, and I look forward to hearing from you soon.

[Your Name]​​​

​​​​

Urgent Action for a Ceasefire and Unrestricted Humanitarian Access in Sudan


Dear [Your MP’s Name],

I hope this email finds you well.

I am writing to draw your urgent attention to the catastrophic humanitarian crisis unfolding in Sudan. After more than two years of brutal conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), civilians are facing starvation, mass displacement, disease outbreaks, and widespread violence.

Over 30 million people now require humanitarian assistance, and Sudan has become the world’s largest displacement crisis, with more than 11 million people internally displaced and millions more forced to flee across borders.

The situation is deteriorating rapidly. According to the UN, famine is already present in multiple regions, including displacement camps in Darfur and Kordofan, with millions at risk of starvation as food, water, and medical supplies become unreachable due to active fighting and deliberate access restrictions. Outbreaks of cholera, measles, and other preventable diseases continue to spread due to the collapse of Sudan’s health system.

Humanitarian agencies are unable to reach people in need. Aid convoys have been blocked, workers attacked, and vital border crossings closed. The UN has repeatedly warned that without immediate and unhindered humanitarian access, hundreds of thousands of lives are at risk. Under international humanitarian law—including the Geneva Conventions—starvation of civilians, obstruction of aid, and attacks on densely populated areas are unacceptable and unlawful.

As your constituent and an Ambassador for The Borgen Project,  I am urging you to do everything in your power to:

  • Call for an immediate, nationwide ceasefire

  • Demand unrestricted humanitarian access across Sudan, including safe corridors for aid organisations and protection for aid workers

Sudanese civilians are facing intolerable suffering. The UK must take a strong stance to help end the violence and ensure life-saving aid reaches those who need it most.

Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter. I look forward to your response.

Kind regards,
[Your Name]

 

Andy Burnham, Supporting International Development

Dear Prime Minister,

I hope this message finds you well.

I am writing as a UK constituent and supporter of The Borgen Project to urge your Government to make international development a clear national priority and to set out a timeline for increasing Official Development Assistance (ODA).

You have stated that government policies should pass the “Makerfield Test” by demonstrating tangible benefits for communities across the United Kingdom. Investment in international development already meets that test.

Official Development Assistance strengthens global health systems, supports education, reduces poverty and helps build more stable societies. These investments also benefit the United Kingdom by improving global health security, addressing the root causes of conflict and displacement, creating future economic opportunities and strengthening Britain’s influence around the world.

International development is therefore not only a humanitarian commitment but also a strategic investment in the UK’s long-term security and prosperity.

I respectfully urge your Government to:

  • Publicly reaffirm its commitment to international development.
  • Set out a clear timeline for increasing Official Development Assistance.
  • Demonstrate the UK’s continued leadership in tackling global poverty.

The United Kingdom has a long history of supporting international development, and I hope your Government will continue that leadership. Investing in people around the world creates a safer, healthier and more prosperous future for everyone, including communities here in the UK.

Thank you for taking the time to consider my views. I look forward to your response.

Yours sincerely,

[Your Name]