SIR Keir Starmer should hike taxes to fund defence spending instead of slashing aid, furious Labour MPs demanded today.
Left-wing backbenchers are plotting to ambush the PM with calls to cancel the overseas development cut and foist the burden on Britain’s richest.
Recent polls by YouGov show that 67% of Britons support increasing defense spending over foreign aid.
MPs are passing around a letter, as reported by the Sun, advocating for a wealth tax as a preferred method to fund the military.
The letter, timed to coincide with the start of PMQs on Wednesday, emphasizes that it is unjust for any government to strengthen its finances at the expense of the world’s most vulnerable populations.
“This is a political decision, not an economic necessity – and sources of financing are available which punish neither British voters nor the world’s poor.”
The letter, organised by new Labour MP Brian Leishman, adds: “Whilst it might seem like cutting the aid budget is more politically palatable than other cuts, the British public are generous and open minded.
“We feel confident they would rather see money taken from billionaires rather than taken away from children in Sudan.”
Labour MPs fuming at the decision to slash aid are broadly split in two camps.
A group of lefty luvvies who are vocally opposed to the cut are determined for the decision to be u-turned altogether.
A more moderate group of Labour MPs who hate the move, including ministers, have been quietly campaigning against it behind the scenes.
At the very least they want Sir Keir to delay the cut to 2026 so charities can be given time to adjust their plans.
