Thank you to those constituents who contacted me about the Labour Government’s recent decision to cut UK foreign aid, which is also known as Official Development Assistance (ODA).
The UK has an extensive and proud record on international development. From standing shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine, to vaccinating children across globe to providing extensive humanitarian relief in conflict zones around the word, the UK has long been an influential force for good in the world.
The previous Conservative Government helped lift millions out of poverty across the world, supported business growth and investment in developing countries and provided new clean water, sanitation and hygiene support for over 110 million people between 2011 and 2019. We also supported improving rights for women and girls and the protection of religious minorities.
The previous Government’s decision to temporarily reduce ODA from 0.7 per cent of Gross National Income (GNI to 0.5 per cent was taken because – regrettably – the impact of the global pandemic on the UK economy forced Ministers at the time to make many tough but necessary decisions. Given the incredibly difficult economic constraints the UK faced during this time and recognising the need to manage public finances responsibly and maintain strong investment in domestic public services, I supported this decision.
In today’s dangerous world where our country faces unprecedented threats – be that from Russia, Iran or China – it is clear we need pragmatic realism in our foreign and defence policy. The first duty of every Government is to protect our country and citizens, which is why the last Government had a clear plan in place to increase defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP and has pressed this Government to match our commitment.
To increase funding in the short term to reach 2.5 per cent of GDP, it is right that part of the overseas aid budget is repurposed to support the defence and security of our country, our allies and our interests. Given the circumstances, I felt this was the right decision.
I would also like to address the overseas aid budget the UK has allocated to cover the costs of caring for refugees within our country. The UK has an established asylum system for the most vulnerable people in the world, and I have always believed that resettlement is vital as a safe and legal pathway for the protection of vulnerable refugees fleeing persecution.
Under international aid rules, many of the costs of housing refugees can count towards the country’s aid budget for the first 12 months that refugees are in the UK. I recognise that the amount of UK aid spent on UK-based refugees has increased in recent years, in large part due to the cost of supporting those arriving from Ukraine and the resettlement of Afghans.
Given that the Government plans to reduce Official Development Assistance to 0.3 per cent of Gross National Income by 2027, the Government needs to provide more transparency about the split of ODA between Government Departments, including spending on asylum. My colleagues on the Shadow Frontbench have pressed the Government for details on how it plans to reduce the amount of overseas aid spent on asylum hotels. I will closely examine any further information that is provided about how the Government plans to allocate the ODA budget. I also want to make clear my commitment to scrutinising the Government’s approach to spending foreign aid to ensure every penny is spent effectively and at value for British taxpayers’ money.
In the long term, the Conservatives continue to support a return to spending 0.7 per cent of Gross National Income (GNI) on overseas aid when the fiscal conditions allow. While I appreciate that this may not be the response those who wrote calling for the cuts to be reversed wanted, I hope I have explained my views on this and why I believe it is right to support the defence budget at this critical time.
