Newly appointed Secretary of State for International Development

Kevin Watkins, CEO of Save the Children UK, said:

“Congratulations to Penny Mordaunt on being appointed to the best job in Government.

“The Department for International Development is transforming and saving the lives of some of the poorest children in the world. At a time when conflict and natural disaster threaten the progress of the past fifteen years, British leadership in aid and development is more important than ever.

“We look forward to working with the new Secretary of State to help deliver this Government’s promise to eradicate poverty and save children’s lives.

“We’d like to start with a joint effort to end child deaths from pneumonia. This preventable, treatable disease is killing two children every minute – most of whom are under the age of two. British leadership has virtually eradicated polio. A new international and national drive against pneumonia could save a million more lives over the next five years – taking us closer to a world where no child is left behind, and every country is able to stand on its own two feet. We hope the new Secretary of State will help to make this a reality”.