LONDON — The minister overseeing international development in Britain has stepped down following Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s recent decision to reduce the foreign aid budget in favor of an increase in defense spending. Anneliese Dodds announced her resignation as the international development minister and minister for women, expressing her disagreement with the decision to cut overseas aid.
In her resignation letter to Starmer, which was shared on social media, Dodds acknowledged the challenges of increasing defense expenditure but emphasized her opposition to the reduction in aid. Earlier in the week, Starmer had unveiled plans to raise the United Kingdom’s defense spending to 2.5% of its gross domestic product (GDP) by 2027. This is an increase from the existing level of 2.3% of GDP. Starmer justified the move by citing a new era of instability in Europe that necessitates a significant response.
To facilitate this increase in defense spending, the government plans to decrease the foreign aid budget from 0.5% to 0.3% of GDP. This decision has prompted significant backlash from humanitarian organizations, who argue it will not only negatively impact some of the globe’s most vulnerable populations but also diminish Britain’s influence and diplomatic power on the global stage.
