Response to cut in overseas aid

Senior Christian Leaders have criticised the announcement by the Prime Minister on Tuesday 25 February that the UK’s international aid budget will be cut from 0.5% to 0.3% of national income by 2027.

Speaking collectively under the umbrella of the Joint Public Issues Team, Revd Lynn Green (pictured above, General Secretary, The Baptist Union of Great Britain), Emma Jackson (Convener of the Public Life and Social Justice Programme Group, The Church of Scotland), Revd Helen Cameron and Carolyn Godfrey (President and Vice-President, The Methodist Church in Britain), Tim Dunwoody (Team Leader for Irish Methodist World Development and Relief, The Methodist Church in Ireland) and Revd Philip Brooks (Deputy General Secretary (Mission), The United Reformed Church), issued the following statement:

‘We deeply lament the government’s stated intention to make further cuts to the UK’s international development budget. This would break a manifesto promise made to people in the world’s poorest communities and have a devastating impact on lives and livelihoods across the globe. While there is a case to be made for increasing defence spending to support Ukraine in resisting Russian aggression, that shouldn’t come at the cost of vital humanitarian and development programmes, which play a crucial role in promoting human security around the world.

UK aid programmes protect women and girls from violence, provide cost-effective vaccines to babies and young children and support human rights defenders who work to prevent future conflict. Such programmes will be under threat if UK aid is further slashed by 40%.

Our Churches have strongly encouraged and supported the UK in its commitment to international development, not only as a way of showing care to our global neighbours, but in recognition of the UK’s historic and ongoing responsibilities to address the causes of global injustice, poverty, forced migration, climate change and conflict. It is a source of deep regret to see a backing away from that responsibility. A massively reduced UK aid budget would be experienced as a bitter blow by partners and communities in the global south, especially coming so soon after the devastating USAID cuts. We urge the government to rethink its decision immediately.’

Read the full statement HERE. Find out more about the work of the Joint Public Issues Team HERE.

Bishop Stephen Wright (pictured above), a former Auxiliary Bishop in the Catholic Archdiocese of Birmingham and current chair of CAFOD (The Catholic Agency for Overseas Development) also criticised Prime Minister Kier Starmer’s announcement on defence spending and cuts to Official Development Assistance. Bishop Stephen said:

‘Aid cuts cost lives. With so many in the world suffering the impacts of poverty, climate change and conflict – not least in Ukraine, Sudan and the DRC – cuts to international aid removes a lifeline for many of our poorest sisters and brothers.

Decisions made in the UK have very human consequences around the globe. Families unable to grow food because of the climate crisis, children not able to go to school, and people going untreated and unvaccinated for curable diseases. Reducing aid not only increases suffering, it makes the world less safe for all of us.

This year is a Jubilee Year for the (Roman Catholic) Church – a time of hope, journeying together and resetting injustices, not a time for turning our backs on those in need. The government shouldn’t be balancing the books at the expense of the poorest communities around the world.’

Read Bishop Stephen’s statement HERE. Find out more about the work of CAFOD HERE.