A SENIOR Minister has quit her post over Sir Keir Starmer’s decision to slash aid money to help pay for a hike to defence spending.
Anneliese Dodds, who attended Cabinet, claims that cutting back on the development money will bolster Russia.
Starmer increased military spending by £6billion a year on Monday, saying Britain has to “fight for peace”.
Ms Dodds wrote to the Prime Minister saying she firmly disagrees with the decision to bring down the cash from 0.5 per cent to just 0.3 per cent.
Ms. Dodds took to social media to share her resignation from her positions as the minister for international development and women and equalities. In her post, she expressed her sadness over having to resign.
“While I disagree with the ODA decision, I continue to support the Government and its determination to deliver the change our country needs.”
She revealed she had been ready to cut the aid budget to pay for the PM’s plan to increase defence spending in 2027 to 2.5 per cent.
She highlighted the significant shift in the global order post World War II. Ms. Dodds emphasized the necessity to boost defense spending in light of these changes, acknowledging the challenges involved in funding such increases.
She indicated her willingness to collaborate in order to achieve the required higher spending on defense, recognizing that a portion of these funds might need to be redirected from overseas development assistance (ODA).
“I also expected we would collectively discuss our fiscal rules and approach to taxation, as other nations are doing.
“Even 3% may only be the start, and it will be impossible to raise the substantial resources needed just through tactical cuts to public spending.
“These are unprecedented times, when strategic decisions for the sake of our country’s security cannot be ducked.”
Sir Keir Starmer said the decision to reduce overseas aid money was “painful” in a letter to Ms Dodds.
But he added he will do “everything we can” to increase development money – that had already been cut from 0.7 per cent of GDP to 0.5 per cent.
The Labour manifesto included a vow to return to the 0.7 per cent figure.
The PM said: “The decision I have taken on the impact on ODA was a difficult and painful decision and not one I take lightly.
“We will do everything we can to return to a world where that is not the case and to rebuild a capability on development.
“However, protecting our national security must always be the first duty of any government and I will always act in the best interests of the British people.”
Save the Children Chief Executive Moazzam Malik said her resignation highlights the “wide coalition” against the government’s decision.
Earlier this week, Sir Keir Starmer said it wasn’t a decision that he took lightly as a Labour Prime Minister.
Explaining his decision, Sir Keir insisted the world is at a “moment where we have to fight for peace, through the action that we take” amid US threats to call time on its funding for Europe’s security.
The PM laid out a plan to raise the military budget to 2.5 per cent of GDP within two years – and then to 3 per cent after the next election.
He said: “I’ve taken a difficult choice today because I believe in overseas development, and I know the impact of the decision that I’ve had to take today, and I do not take it lightly.
“It is not a decision that I, as a British Labour prime minister, would have wanted to take, but a decision that I must make in order to secure the security and defence of our country.”
Sir Keir claimed the decision to increase defence spending has been “three years in the making” ever since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
He added: “I think we’ve known that this decision had to be taken.”
Labour will raise the defence budget to 2.5 per cent of GDP within two years — and then three per cent after the next election.
That will add £13billion a year to military spending from 2027.
But only £6 billion of that is actually new money – calculated as the difference between spending 2.3 per cent and 2.5 per cent of GDP.
It comes after the Sun revealed aid was being squandered on crazy projects including a study on prawn health.
‘Ruthless’ Starmer
By Ryan Sabey
Keir Starmer flew back to the UK this morning after a triumphant US visit – hit by a resignation of a senior Minister.
The Prime Minister though will not be losing any sleep over her departure triggered by the cut to international aid money.
In truth, it simply demonstrates his ruthlessness in sacrifice overseas aid cash to boost defence spending.
The fact she was only given 24 hours notice about the decision – already a done deal – really gave her no option but to go.
The resignation will also demonstrate to potential Reform voters that he is willing to make decisions on issues that trouble them.
Her departure from government will be a minor headache for him, nothing more.
There haven’t, for example, been any more resignations from the junior Ministerial ranks.
Sir Keir had some trouble from Diane Abbott at a heated Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday but Labour ranks are in check.
Most on the Labour side realise, while growth is low, the aid budget was low hanging fruit to pay for much-needed defence spending in an uncertain world.
