SHADOW international development secretary Mary Creagh accused the Tories yesterday of reneging on an election pledge to enshrine Britain’s foreign aid commitment in law.

Legislation ensuring that the government would meet its United Nations commitment to spend 0.7 per cent of Britain’s wealth on foreign aid was promised in the Tory election manifesto and the coalition agreement.

But speaking in Ebola-hit Sierra Leone this week, Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond dismissed the move as “bizarre” and claimed the legislation was not needed as the UN target was being met.

“Somebody says ‘shall we have a law that says you’ve got to build a building.’ Think about it — in the mean time we built a building,” he said.

“Someone comes along and says ‘now we’ve built it shall we pass the law which says we’ve got to do it?’ We’ve done it. We’re doing it. You don’t need a law to say we’re doing it.”

But Ms Creagh said: “On every issue, from Europe to green energy, as soon as the Tory right wing raises its head, the Tory leadership folds like a deckchair.

“David Cameron made meeting the 0.7 per cent aid target a symbol of the change he claimed to bring to the Tory Party — a change that lies in tatters as they bang on about Europe and stand up only for a privileged few.”

The government has however given its backing to a private member’s Bill tabled by Lib Dem ex-cabinet minister Michael Moore in frustration over the Tories’ reluctance to put the measure into law.

A Lib Dem spokesman said: “At no point has Philip Hammond ever raised any concerns about this with us in government.

“Michael Moore’s Bill to enshrine the 0.7 per cent international aid target in law is entirely in line with the policy of the coalition government. It will provide people in grave need with lifesaving support, and set an example to other wealthy countries.”