This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-20250025

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Rwanda: Andrew Mitchell denies 'rogue' action over aid cheque Andrew Mitchell denies 'rogue' action over Rwanda aid
(about 1 hour later)
Andrew Mitchell has denied acting as a "rogue minister" by sanctioning a £16m aid cheque to Rwanda on his last day as international development secretary.Andrew Mitchell has denied acting as a "rogue minister" by sanctioning a £16m aid cheque to Rwanda on his last day as international development secretary.
He said it was a collective decision taken with the prime minister. He told MPs it was a collective decision taken with the prime minister.
The move was controversial as Rwanda's rulers have allegedly funded rebels "killing, maiming and raping" in neighbouring Congo. The move was controversial as Rwanda's rulers have allegedly funded rebels killing, maiming and raping in neighbouring Congo.
David Cameron has said Rwanda is a "success story" but its leaders should not support militias in Congo.David Cameron has said Rwanda is a "success story" but its leaders should not support militias in Congo.
Mr Mitchell denied Britain had gone "out on a limb" by continuing to fund development in Rwanda, when other donors around the world had suspended their aid. Mr Mitchell was being questioned by the cross-party international development committee about UK aid to Rwanda while he was international development secretary between May 2010 and September 2012.
He said Britain had suspended its aid to the country over concerns about its behaviour, but it started again after Mr Cameron's conditions for the resumption of aid were "partially met". He denied Britain had gone "out on a limb" by continuing to fund development in Rwanda, when the US and other European donors had suspended their aid.
The only one that had not was the explicit condemnation by the Rwandan government of militia violence in the Congo, he told the committee. He also denied having a "personal interest" in maintaining good relations with the country's leader Paul Kagame, after visiting it several times to take part in href="http://www.conservatives.com/Get_involved/Project_Umubano.aspx" title="Conservative Party website" >Project Umubano, which saw Tory MPs - including several members of the committee quizzing Mr Mitchell - help with local business and education projects.
'Warm relationship'
The project, visited by Mr Cameron in 2007, was a key part of the Tory leader's effort to present a more compassionate image.
But Mr Mitchell said he had stopped taking part in Project Umabano in May 2010 when he became international development secretary - and the coalition had simply continued with the "candid but warm relationship with Rwanda" established by Labour Prime Minster Tony Blair.
The UK government had suspended its aid to Rwanda in July over concerns about its alleged behaviour in the Congo, said Mr Mitchell, but the money started flowing again in August after conditions set by Mr Cameron had been "partially met".
The only one that had not been met was the explicit condemnation by the Rwandan government of militia violence in the Congo, he told the committee.
The decision to give the money was "entirely proper" and in line with guidance from senior officials, the foreign secretary and prime minister and after visiting the country to see the situation on the ground for himself, he said.The decision to give the money was "entirely proper" and in line with guidance from senior officials, the foreign secretary and prime minister and after visiting the country to see the situation on the ground for himself, he said.
'Trust''Trust'
"The press have suggested that a rogue minister can sign cheques under the bed clothes and bung them out to dubious leaders. That is completely untrue."The press have suggested that a rogue minister can sign cheques under the bed clothes and bung them out to dubious leaders. That is completely untrue.
"It is very insulting. I take deep offence at the suggestion that I would ever behave in that way," Mr Mitchell told the committee."It is very insulting. I take deep offence at the suggestion that I would ever behave in that way," Mr Mitchell told the committee.
He said the coalition had continued the "candid but warm relationship with Rwanda" established by Labour Prime Minster Tony Blair and insisted the country could be trusted. He said the British government had not come under any pressure from Germany, the Netherlands and other countries to suspend aid - and insisted the Rwandan government could be trusted with aid money.
"Rwanda does exactly what they say they are going to do with our taxpayers money," he told the committee. "Rwanda does exactly what they say they are going to do with our taxpayers' money," he told the committee.
And he added: "Taking away budget support would have no effect on the elite in (Rwanda's largest city) Kigali, but it would, bluntly, take girls out of school elsewhere in that country. "Taking away budget support would have no effect on the elite in [Rwanda's capital] Kigali, but it would, bluntly, take girls out of school elsewhere in that country.
"So it might make us feel better to remove budget support but it would not effect the people who make the decisions." "So it might make us feel better to remove budget support but it would not affect the people who make the decisions."
Mr Cameron visited Rwanda in 2007 to learn about development issues. He left the international development department in September to become Conservative chief whip, only to resign weeks later following a row outside No 10 in which he swore at a police officer.
Mr Mitchell is being questioned by the cross-party international development committee about UK aid to Rwanda while he was international development secretary between May 2010 and September 2012.
He left the department in September to become Conservative chief whip, only to resign weeks later following a row outside No 10 in which he swore at a police officer.
In July, Mr Mitchell blocked the UK's £27m annual contribution to the Rwandan government after he visited the Kivus region of the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo.In July, Mr Mitchell blocked the UK's £27m annual contribution to the Rwandan government after he visited the Kivus region of the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo.
Rampage
However, in his last day at the department, he decided to unfreeze the aid, citing progress at international talks. This meant a £16m tranche of the total funding was paid.However, in his last day at the department, he decided to unfreeze the aid, citing progress at international talks. This meant a £16m tranche of the total funding was paid.
Mr Mitchell's successor in the role, Justine Greening, will decide in December whether to free up the remaining amount.Mr Mitchell's successor in the role, Justine Greening, will decide in December whether to free up the remaining amount.
Rwandan President Paul Kagame has been praised for improving the economic and social conditions in the east African country, in which an estimated 800,000 people were killed in ethnic violence during 1994.Rwandan President Paul Kagame has been praised for improving the economic and social conditions in the east African country, in which an estimated 800,000 people were killed in ethnic violence during 1994.
But Mr Kagame, in power since 2000, has come under fierce criticism recently for allegedly funding the M23 rebel group in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).But Mr Kagame, in power since 2000, has come under fierce criticism recently for allegedly funding the M23 rebel group in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
A leaked United Nations document says Rwanda's defence minister is effectively commanding the rebellion.
The violence has drawn international condemnation and the US and some European countries have withheld aid.
The rebellion started in April, when a militia that had been absorbed into the Congolese army mutinied and went on the rampage. Since then nearly half a million people have been displaced by fighting between the M23 and the army.The rebellion started in April, when a militia that had been absorbed into the Congolese army mutinied and went on the rampage. Since then nearly half a million people have been displaced by fighting between the M23 and the army.
According to a confidential report by the UN Security Council's Group of Experts, seen by Reuters news agency, Rwanda's defence minister was relaying military orders to M23 rebel leaders.