The Bishop of Worcester has voiced his disappointment after MPs backed the government plan to cut foreign aid after winning the vote 333 to 298.

The decision means the foreign aid budget will remain at 0.5% of the national income after it was reduced from 0.7% earlier this year.

A total of 24 conservative MPs rebelled against the government’s plan including MP for West Worcestershire Harriett Baldwin who previously served as Foreign Office Minister before she was dismissed by the Prime Minister in 2019.

Worcester MP Robin Walker and Mid Worcestershire MP Nigel Huddleston both voted in support of the government along with 330 other conservative MPs and one independent.

Mr Walker said: “I want it to return to the 0.7%. I have been very clear with my whip and with the treasury.

“I want to return to 0.7% which is what we promised in our manifesto but I think it is reasonable that we should do that as the economy recovers rather than immediately.

“We’ve faced a huge demand for extra money to be spent at home and it’s right that we meet that first and so I voted with the government.”

The Bishop of Worcester has expressed his displeasure at the decision and believes it risks making the cut permanent.

He said: “I am very disappointed that Parliament has not seen fit to honour this country’s laudable promise, enshrined in law, to devote 0.7 percent of GNI to aid.

“As Andrew Mitchell commented this morning, it is not right that the world’s poorest should be the only ones to suffer from a reduction in spending following the pandemic.

“The commitment was one of which the Conservative party could be proud and I hope it will be restored very soon.”

He added: “It is a matter of some concern that the criteria which the Government has now set out for a return to 0.7 per cent are so stringent that it risks making permanent rather than temporary the reduction in our overseas development.”