In the early 20th century, the Royal Navy and its mighty fleet of Dreadnoughts amounted to a Goliath overshadowing British foreign policy. Fast forward 100 years and there is a new and very different Goliath in Whitehall, one equipped not with 12-inch guns but an abundance of goodwill for the world. This is the earnest and excruciatingly well-intentioned Department for International Development (Dfid).

Make no mistake: through all the years of austerity, one Whitehall department – and one alone – has prospered mightily.

The numbers are remarkable. Since Dfid’s first full year of existence in 1998 the department’s budget has multiplied fivefold, from £2.3 billion to £11.8 billion this year.