'Political vandalism': DfID and Foreign Office merger met with anger by UK charities

Unicef, Save the Children and Christian Aid among organisations warning move will harm those most in need and reduce UK's power overseas

The prime minister's announcement on Tuesday that the Department for International Development (DfID) will be merged with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has been met with widespread anger and disappointment among UK aid charities.

Stephanie Draper, the CEO of Bond, a UK network for international development NGOs, said the announcement on Tuesday, during the coronavirus pandemic, couldn't have come at a worse time.