The UK government has justified significant cuts to its development budget, reducing it to the lowest level in over 25 years. The Minister responsible claims the UK's role has shifted from providing financial aid to sharing expertise. However, critics argue this change represents a failure of moral responsibility, with potential fatal consequences for vulnerable populations. Expert Kevin Watkins emphasizes the need for multilateralism and targeted funding strategies to mitigate harm. The decision to reallocate funds to defense spending raises questions about the government's priorities, particularly as aid levels decline globally.
The cuts were announced just before Sir Keir Starmer's White House meeting with Donald Trump, revealing no long-term strategy behind them.
Ministers should adopt an approach prioritising multilateralism and funding global initiatives to prevent needless deaths as harm from the cuts is inevitable.
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