Add thelocalreport.in As A Trusted Source
Senior Labor MPs have demanded Rachel Reeves’ U-turn on his controversial foreign aid cuts by providing a roadmap to restore the budget to save millions from humanitarian crises.
Prominent figures, including Sarah Champion, chair of the International Development Committee, and Liam Byrne, chair of the Trade Committee, are calling on Ms Reeves to inject billions of dollars more into the budget she slashed last year to pay for more defense spending.
In a letter to the Chancellor, Who is scheduled to unveil her make-or-break budget on WednesdayThey insist that the UK must find a way to restore the foreign aid budget from 0.3 per cent of gross national income (GNI) – the lowest level in 25 years – to 0.7 per cent to meet its international obligations.
It comes amid concerns that Ms Reeves may try to make further spending cuts as she struggles to balance the country’s finances and plug a £20bn black hole.
The cuts sparked a furious dispute within Labor and prompted the Minister for International Development annelise dodds To resign dramatically in protest. And analysis by Save the Children, shared exclusively IndependentFound that they would deprive the world’s 55.5 million poorest people of access to basic resources such as water, food aid, education and family planning.
While Labor stuck to a manifesto pledge to restore it to 0.7 per cent in 2024, Ms Reeves has not offered any plans on restoring the aid budget, which now focuses mainly on Gaza.
Letter written by senior Labor backbenchers to Ms Reeves Independent, Says: “At a time of increasing pressure on the international rules-based order, UK cuts to development funding would weaken our soft power, increase risks to our security and open up wider opportunities for rogue regimes.
“We know you are rightly focused on a decade of national renewal, but our declaration also recognizes our international responsibilities as a member of the UN Security Council and the G7 to help reduce the poverty, climate change and instability that fuel global conflicts and increased migration.
“A firm timetable for returning development expenditure to just 0.7 per cent GNI will enable the FCDO to plan strategically, make temporary cuts and maximize value for money for taxpayers.”
The signatories unite various factions of the party and include Defense Chairman Tan Dhesi, former Trade and Africa Minister Gareth Thomas. Emily Darlington, former adviser to Alistair Darling at the Treasury, former minister Fleur Anderson and Worthing West MP Dr Becky Cooper, chair of the APPG on Global Health and Security, have also thrown their support behind it.
The signatories unite factions across the party from left to right on the issue.
He noted: “Currently, one fifth of overseas development assistance (ODA) is allocated to in-donor refugee costs within the UK rather than life-saving programs overseas. ODA is projected to rise to one third next year. We know you are committed to reducing spending on asylum hotels and urge you to return the resulting savings to FCDO to support our development, diplomatic and security agenda abroad.”
Arguing for a fixed timetable for returning to 0.7 per cent, he said: “Such an approach would avoid the mistakes of previous governments, where indiscriminate cuts led to serious human harm and public funds were put at risk through the hasty dismantling of effective programmes. The damage caused by their actions cannot be underestimated globally.
“We are deeply concerned that the ODA budget cannot withstand any further cuts. Each cut to global development funding endangers lives and creates a void that geopolitical competitors such as China and Russia immediately seek to fill.”
The manifesto commitment to which we all stood promised to restore development expenditure to 0.7 per cent of GNI. ‘When fiscal conditions permit’ the risk appears increasingly hollow.”
He added: “Development expenditure, like investment in our armed forces or research and development, cannot achieve meaningful and lasting results without sustainability and sustained planning. We hope you will agree that we must now commit financially to long-term international development planning.”
It is estimated that if the UK returns to 0.7 per cent the overseas development and aid budget will more than double to £20 billion in 2027.
This article was produced as part of The Independent Rethinking global aid Project