'Conversation on future of aid long overdue': UK looks to lead response to swingeing US cuts

The huge US-led cuts to international aid programmes and to the UN budget has prompted the UK foreign secretary, David Lammy, to propose a global conference as part of what he described as "a long overdue conversation about the future architecture of aid". UK Foreign Office officials said the conference was likely to be in the early autumn, and reflected a UK view that since aid cuts were not reversible in the foreseeable future, a discussion about priorities was required. "I want to have a conference that brings together the western community on development and aid, and how we spend…