Halima Begum’s excellent article on the opportunities now facing our new prime minister (Andy Burnham could easily ignore the UK’s falling aid commitment. He would be wise not to, 23 July) sheds a harsh light on the UK’s recent performance in international development. The focus on short-term, UK-attributable “results” that accompanied the earlier 0.7% aid commitment often does little to avert ongoing aid dependency. That, and a recommitment to taking our international obligations seriously, is still what I hope for with the reset promised by Burnham and his team. Desmond WhymsFormer senior health adviser, Department for International Development