LONDON — Anneliese Dodds has resigned from her position as the United Kingdom’s international development minister following the government’s decision to reduce overseas aid in order to increase defense expenditure.
In a statement earlier this week, Prime Minister Keir Starmer revealed that international development funding would decrease from 0.5 percent to 0.3 percent of gross national income starting in 2027. This change is part of a broader initiative to bolster defense spending.
“It is not an announcement I am happy to make,” Starmer remarked, emphasizing the UK’s ongoing commitment to humanitarian aid in regions such as Sudan, Ukraine, and Gaza.
However, Dodds expressed her concerns upon resigning on Friday, stating that maintaining the UK’s humanitarian priorities would be “impossible to maintain these priorities given the depth of the cut.” She warned that the repercussions of this reduction would be “far greater than presented.”
In her resignation, the former development minister, who has previously held the role of shadow chancellor under Starmer, highlighted that this decision could lead to the UK stepping back from its commitments in various nations across Africa, the Caribbean, and the Western Balkans, particularly as Russia expands its global presence.
Dodds further argued that this policy shift would diminish the UK’s influence within important international forums such as the G7, G20, and the World Bank, leaving the country “shut out” from numerous multilateral bodies. She cautioned against framing this decision as a mere adjustment, comparing it to former U.S. President Donald Trump’s cuts to the U.S. Agency for International Development.
In a letter addressed to Dodds, Prime Minister Starmer acknowledged her “hard work, deep commitment, and friendship,” and indicated that there might be opportunities for her to contribute in the future. He staunchly defended the decision to cut aid, insisting it was made after thorough consideration of its implications.
Starmer stated, “The decision I have taken on the impact on ODA was a difficult and painful decision and not one I take lightly,” affirming the government’s intention to seek a pathway to restoring development funding. However, he underscored that ensuring national security remains the government’s paramount responsibility.
Support for Dodds’ resignation came from former International Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell, a member of the Conservative Party, who criticized the Labour Party’s actions in this context. He remarked, “Labour’s disgraceful and cynical actions demean the Labour Party’s reputation as they balance the books on the backs of the poorest people in the world.”
This reduction in development spending follows previous cuts made by the Conservative Party, which saw funding drop from 0.7 percent to 0.5 percent in 2021 due to the economic impact of Covid-19. The party also eliminated the UK’s dedicated aid department under Boris Johnson’s leadership.