Response to DFID and FCO merger

16 Jun 2020 03:15 PM

Responding to the announcement that the Department for International Development (DFID) and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) are to merge, FDA National Officer Allan Sampson yesterday said:

"Whilst speculation has existed for several months now, today's news has created huge uncertainty and unease for DFID staff.

"DFID is a department with a strong reputation for success, with staff working tirelessly to lead the UK’s global efforts to respond to COVID-19 and protect the poorest and most vulnerable people around the world.

"A recent International Development Committee report commended DFID’s standing as a global development agency and the excellence of the department's programming and transparency, and urged against a disruptive and costly machinery of government reorganisation that would impact the effectiveness of aid.

"DFID has also operated successfully over two sites and employs a significant number of staff outside of London. Those staff, and many others, will now understandably be concerned for their future and disappointed to hear about this through leaks to the media."

Notes for Editors

  1. The FDA is the union for senior managers and professionals in public service, representing more than 18,000 members at grades HEO and above. Membership includes senior civil servants, government policy advisors, prosecutors, diplomats, tax professionals, economists, solicitors and other professionals working across the Government and the NHS.
  2. The FDA (formerly the First Division Association) should be referred to simply as "The FDA" and can be described as "the senior public servants' union".
  3. The FDA can be found on Twitter @FDA_union. General Secretary Dave Penman tweets as @FDAGenSec.
  4. For more information contact:

FDA Communications Officer Tommy Newell on 07738 729 145 or tommy@fda.org.uk
FDA Communications Officer Scott Dobson on 07727 869 640 or scott@fda.org.uk
FDA Head of Communications Kay Hender on 07980 700 747 or kay@fda.org.uk