LONDON, Feb 28: The British Cabinet member in charge of international development resigned on Friday following Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s recent announcement to increase defence spending by cutting the foreign aid budget.
In a resignation letter shared on social media, Anneliese Dodds, the former international development minister and women’s minister, expressed her concerns, stating that while increasing defence spending is not straightforward, she could not support cuts to overseas aid.
On Tuesday, Starmer declared that the UK government aims to boost defence spending to 2.5 percent of GDP by 2027, up from the current 2.3 percent, underscoring a new era of insecurity in Europe that demands a “generational response.”
This increase would be financed by reducing the aid budget from 0.5 percent to 0.3 percent of GDP.
The decision, which received backing from US President Donald Trump, faced significant backlash from aid organizations, who argued that it would adversely affect some of the world’s most vulnerable populations and diminish Britain’s global influence. (AGENCIES)
