Lammy Accused of Misleading Foreign Affairs Committee After Foreign Office Refuses to Fund Ukrainian Child Rescue – Guido Fawkes

EXC: Lammy Accused of Misleading Foreign Affairs Committee After Foreign Office Refuses to Fund Ukrainian Child Rescue

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David Lammy has been accused of misleading the Foreign Affairs Committee after the FCDO refused to fund efforts to track down missing Ukrainian children. An incredibly meaningful and sensitive issue…

Lammy said at a meeting of the committee this month that he takes “a particular interest in children and vulnerable children” from Ukraine and that “we are funding that work.” Conservative MP and committee member Aphra Brandreth asked Lammy for more information: had the Yale Humanitarian Research Lab, which is doing that work, approached the foreign office for funding after having theirs withdrawn by the White House? Lammy dodged a direct answer and said instead:

“We are an active member of the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children. Obviously, I have a personal commitment, and we are doing work alongside Madam Zelensky in this area. I will write to you on that particular stream.”

Sounds promising. That is, until you realise that the Yale Lab’s executive director Nathanial Redmond appeared on the very same day on the Telegraph’s Ukraine podcast and confirmed that a funding request to help track down missing Ukrainian children had been denied by the FCDO with no explanation. At the same time as the Foreign Office scrambles to increase its ‘equalities’ overseas aid budget…

Brandreth has written to Lammy in a letter seen by Guido. She asks if the Foreign Secretary can confirm that the funding has been denied and what reason he has for that, “and why it is
not considered a suitable project for the UK to contribute to as part of our efforts in Ukraine?” She adds:

“And finally, please can you confirm if you agree with me that the work of the Yale Humanitarian Research Lab is of the utmost importance not just for now but also for the future of Ukraine and ensuring justice is carried out for the horrific atrocities that Russia has committed during its illegal invasion of Ukraine.”

Mealy-mouthed Lammy will be forced to clarify the situation. If he is true to his word that he has a “particular interest” in helping find missing Ukrainian children…

Read Brandreth’s full letter below: