The era of viewing the UK as a global benefactor for charity purposes is behind us, according to the new development minister, Jenny Chapman, who will be addressing MPs. Her upcoming remarks are expected to be a contentious justification for the significant reductions in aid expenditures that she is set to manage.
Lady Chapman assumed her role after former minister Anneliese Dodds was unable to support Keir Starmer’s decision to decrease the UK aid budget from 0.5% to 0.3% of the country’s gross national income (GNI) by 2027. The reduction of £6 billion from the original £15.2 billion budget in 2023 marks a historical low for UK aid spending since 1999, positioning the UK to trail behind countries like Germany, France, Japan, and Canada in terms of official development aid in proportion to GNI.
Starmer defended the cut by asserting the necessity of reallocating funds towards defense. Chapman is to present before the international development select committee, emphasizing a shift in strategy for UK aid from monetary disbursement to leveraging British expertise. Her argument is that fostering economic growth in developing nations is crucial for poverty reduction and aligns with the UK’s plan to address root causes of migration.
Despite potential internal dissent within Labour ranks over the aid cuts, Chapman will underscore a welcome reception in Africa to the renewed focus on partnership and investment rather than donation. She plans to emphasize the policy change by stating that African countries desire a transition from aid recipients to investment partners, with Britain offering expertise in place of direct funding.
Though Chapman’s stance may resonate with former claims by Boris Johnson that the aid budget was likened to a “giant cashpoint in the sky,” she will still affirm the government’s commitment to international aid. Instead, her focus is on prioritizing efficiency and ensuring the best possible value for UK taxpayers while benefiting those receiving assistance abroad.
Additionally, the cuts are particularly striking in light of the analogous reductions in US aid, leading to an estimated 40% decline in global health aid in 2025 compared to the 2023 baseline.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/may/13/labour-defend-aid-cuts-claiming-uk-days-global-charity-over
