Ministers could change the law to cut Britain’s foreign aid budget as part of sweeping economic reforms. The current rate of 0.7 per cent of GDP was enshrined in law by the Coalition government in 2015, but the current administration wants to cut it to 0.5 per cent. Chancellor Rishi Sunak is set to outline … Read more
David Cameron said Boris Johnson’s rumoured plan to cut Britain’s foreign aid spending by £5billion would be a ‘moral, strategic and political’ error – while Tony Blair has slammed the proposals as ‘a profound strategic mistake’. Intervention from the two former Prime Ministers follows reports that Boris Johnson is planning on slashing the £15billion international development budget to … Read more
Boris Johnson today signalled his intention to slash Britain’s foreign aid budget to help the nation’s domestic finances – as he agreed to pump billions more into the Armed Forces. The Prime Minister declined to reject reports of plans to slash the UK’s commitment to spend 0.7 per cent of national income on overseas aid … Read more
Boris Johnson ‘plans to cut foreign aid by £5billion to help meet Britain’s £210bn Covid bill’ Britain could reduce the amount it sends to foreign countries in aid due to Covid Rishi Sunak is said to be pushing for the for £5bn to be cut from foreign aid bill Foreign aid has been criticised after … Read more
Rishi Sunak in bid to curb foreign aid budget: Chancellor wants 0.7% target axed as he struggles with public finance crisis Rishi Sunak wants to shelve foreign aid target during public finances crisis Chancellor and PM will meet to decide fate of the country’s overseas handouts The UK is legally committed to spending 0.7 per … Read more
Theresa May’s drive to spend £200m tackling modern slavery comes under fire A review by the official aid watchdog warned there was little evidence of the long-term impact of global projects funded with British taxpayers’ money Concerns were also raised about the UK’s use of the term ‘modern slavery’ The aid watchdog said many projects … Read more
Britain increased its handouts to China last year as the Government overshot its foreign aid target by almost £100million. Schemes funded by UK taxpayers included a photography project to understand the country’s past, syphilis tests for gay men and improving cancer screening in rural areas. Despite a promise a decade ago to stop sending cash … Read more
Rishi Sunak ‘wants to divert billions from foreign aid budget to pay for spies, drones and cyberweapons’ UK has a legal obligation to spend 0.7 percent of GDP (£15.8bn this year) on aid But a review of foreign, defence and security policy could see priorities shift Sunak has told Cabinet any boost for defence will … Read more
‘Jihadi’ textbook probe descends into farce: Investigation into literature used in British-funded Palestinian schools is slammed – after researchers analysed Israeli publications promoting peace A joint UK-EU study to provide a ‘thorough review’ of the books was promised Report to be completed in October by Germany’s Georg Eckert Institute Concerns were raised after presentation of … Read more
New £6.85million foreign aid scheme to help workers supplying UK chains like M&S and Primark is accused of ‘funnelling aid into the pockets of wealthy firms’ Scheme promises to help workers in poorer countries during the pandemic But critics say it uses taxpayer money to ‘pick up the bill’ for rich corporations Others who will … Read more