We regret Minister Dodds’ departure from the Foreign Office but respect her principled decision to resign. As she has rightly stated, the Prime Minister’s decision to cut UK Aid to 0.3% of GNI is not compatible with his stated commitments to the people of Sudan, Gaza, and Syria, as well as his pledge to address the global security threat posed by climate change.
These cuts come on top of widespread reductions in aid from major donor governments, leaving millions – men, women, and children – around the world trapped in violent conflict with no access to food, water, or basic means of survival. Beyond the devastating human impact, this decision undermines Britain’s long-standing role as a global leader in international development, damaging the UKs diplomatic credibility and weakening our ability to prevent future crises.
The Prime Minister framing his decision as a “tough choice” is misleading. There is nothing brave about slashing life-saving aid while his government could have looked to measures like addressing the £35bn lost in unpaid taxes the UK misses out on each year. This is not fiscal responsibility – it is a weak and indefensible decision that risks abandoning the 300m people around the world who are in dire need of humanitarian assistance.