More than 100 leaders from NGOs across the UK have written to prime minister Keir Starmer, urging him to reverse his decision to cut aid spending, warning that the move will “destroy Labour’s legacy on international development”.
Some 138 leaders from NGOs including Save the Children UK, Oxfam GB and Islamic Relief yesterday called for the government to halt plans to cut the Official Development Assistance (ODA) budget from 0.5% to 0.3% of gross national income (GNI), the first time that it has been at this figure since 1999.
NGO umbrella body Bond said it is estimated that the UK aid budget, being cut to fund an increase in defence spending, will go down by £5.5bn as a result and urged the government to publish an impact assessment.
Meanwhile, international development minister Anneliese Dodds today resigned in protest at the ODA funding cut.
‘False choice of cutting already diminished UK aid’
In the letter, the leaders state that the government’s decision to cut the aid budget will risk the closure of programs supporting marginalised communities facing poverty, conflict and climate change and leave its “ambition to be a reliable development partner on the global stage in tatters”.
The letter states that it is “alarming” that the UK would now be following the US by accepting “the false choice of cutting the already diminished UK aid to fund defence”.
Citing the negative impacts of previous UK aid cuts, and the current US aid freeze, on vulnerable communities worldwide, the leaders noted that “no government should balance its books on the backs of the world’s most marginalised people.”
The letter goes on to say: “We recognise that the safety and security of the people of Britain should always be a priority of the government. But using the UK aid budget to do this is both strategically and morally wrong.
“UK aid, which is only just over 1p in every £1 of public spending brings a huge return on investment.
“It builds peace and prevents conflict and instability, forced migration, provides access to clean water and sanitation, and prevents the spread of diseases like Covid-19 – which would save the UK money in the long run, and help make both the UK and the world a safer, healthier and more prosperous place for us all.”
‘Government must urgently publish impact assessment’
Romy Greenhill, CEO of Bond, said: “The government needs to urgently publish an impact assessment explaining whether the impact of these cuts has been thought through and which alternative sources of funding were explored before deciding to remove support to those who need it most.
“These cuts are going to have a direct and devastating impact on the most marginalised communities in the lowest-income countries. The government needs to explain how it intends to support people facing poverty, conflict, and climate change and honour its existing global commitments.”
Starmer said in a speech earlier this week that the ODA budget cut was “not an announcement I am happy to make”.
He said: “I am proud of our pioneering record on overseas development, and we will continue to play a key humanitarian role in Sudan, in Ukraine and in Gaza, tackling climate change, supporting multinational efforts on global health and challenges like vaccination… We will continue to stand behind the people of Ukraine.
“We must ensure they negotiate their future and we will continue to put them in the strongest position for a lasting peace.”
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