The Reform MP has called for all foreign aid to be scrapped (Image: Getty)
should go further after reducing foreign aid to pay for an increase in defence spending, a Reform UK MP has claimed.
, a regular critic of foreign aid, stopped short of praising the decision as he labelled the sending of relief money overseas as a “scam.”
The MP for Great Yarmouth said: “Foreign aid is a scam. It all needs to be scrapped, with specific projects approved by Parliament on a case-by-case basis.
“If MPs want to fund Bangladeshi shrimp farms, they should put their name to it. Let’s have some real accountability for a change.”
Today, announced that defence spending would be raised from 2.3% of GDP to 2.5% by 2027, with the difference being made up by cuts to the amount of money sent to developing countries.
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Foreign aid is a scam.It all needs to be scrapped, with specific projects approved by Parliament on a case-by-case basis.If MPs want to fund Bangladeshi shrimp farms, they should put their name to it.Let’s have some real accountability for a change.
— Rupert Lowe MP (@RupertLowe10)
Fellow Reform MP mocked the Prime Minister as he reposted a tweet from 2021 where the Labour leader criticised the for cutting foreign aid from 0.7% to 0.5%.
The tweet claimed that “cutting aid to help the world’s poorest during a pandemic is callous – and not in our national interests.”
Anderson poked: “I agree with the PM’s decision today to cut foreign aid. In fact this was in our manifesto. But there’s always a tweet.”
The decision to increase defence spending at the expense of foreign aid was praised by the leader of the opposition .
She said: “I welcome the PM’s increase in defence spending.
“I’m pleased that he took my advice to use the Foreign Aid budget to achieve this. Our job as opposition is to help steer the govt in the right direction. The world has changed and Britain is not ready, we must adapt.”
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Not again ????????????I agree with the PMs decision today to cut foreign aid. In fact this was in our manifesto.But there’s always a tweet.
— Lee Anderson MP (@LeeAndersonMP_)
The former Defence Secretary blasted the decision as a “desertion of leadership” (Image: Getty)
Despite cross-party consensus that an increase to defence spending is imperative if the country is to prepare for the threats it faces, many have claimed that an additional the military deter foreign aggression.
Former Defence Secretary said: “Extra 0.2% of GDP by 2027 on Defence?? A staggering desertion of leadership. Tone deaf to dangers of the world and demands of the United States. Such a weak commitment to our security and Nation puts us all at risk.”
The decision has come in for criticism by charities set to see a reduction in funding in the coming years, with WaterAid labelling it “reckless”, saying they are “profoundly shocked and disappointed.”
Former Shadow Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs of United Kingdom David Miliband blasted the announcement, claiming that the ramifications would be “devastating”.
He said: “The UK government’s decision to cut aid by 6 billion in order to fund defence spending is a blow to Britain’s proud reputation as a global humanitarian and development leader… The global consequences of this decision will be far reaching and devastating for people who need more help not less.”