UK International Development Minister Anneliese Dodds announced her resignation from the Labour government on Friday, citing cuts to overseas aid imposed by Prime Minister Keir Starmer to fund an increase in defense spending.
In a letter to Starmer posted on X (formerly Twitter), Dodds expressed concern that the cuts would deprive vulnerable populations of essential food and healthcare. “Ultimately, these cuts will remove food and healthcare from desperate people,” she wrote.
On Tuesday, Starmer pledged to raise UK defense spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027. To fund this, he ordered a reduction in the overseas development budget from 0.5% to 0.3% of the nation’s gross national income.
While Dodds agreed that defense spending needed to be increased, given the changing global landscape, she expressed disappointment at the decision to place the entire burden on overseas development assistance (ODA). “I had hoped for a collective discussion on how to find the necessary funding. Instead, the tactical decision was made for ODA to absorb the entire burden,” she said.
Starmer acknowledged the difficulty of cutting aid funding in his response, calling it “a painful decision,” but emphasized that protecting national security was the government’s “first duty.”
Following Dodds’ resignation, Starmer announced that longtime ally Jenny Chapman would take over as international development minister.
Dodds raised concerns that the cuts would jeopardize vital assistance programs for countries like Gaza, Ukraine, and Sudan, as well as efforts addressing climate change and vaccination initiatives. She warned that such deep cuts would likely lead to a pullback of UK involvement in African, Caribbean, and Western Balkan nations.
Starmer assured Dodds that his government would continue to protect critical programs, particularly in conflict zones. However, Dodds remained steadfast in her belief that the cuts would undermine the UK’s global commitments.
Dodds’ resignation marks the fourth departure from Starmer’s cabinet since Labour’s election victory last year, following 14 years of Conservative rule.
Earlier this month, junior health minister Andrew Gwynne was dismissed after making offensive remarks, while anti-corruption minister Tulip Siddiq resigned in January due to her involvement in corruption investigations in Bangladesh. In November, Transport Secretary Louise Haigh stepped down after pleading guilty to a criminal offense prior to her parliamentary career.
AFP
