Exclusive: As chancellor scans budget for savings, Simon McDonald says need for humanitarian spending is ‘greater than ever’

The former head of the Foreign Office has warned Rachel Reeves not to cut Britain’s international aid spending, amid signs the chancellor is willing to raid the development budget to help pay for higher defence spending.

Simon McDonald, the former lead civil servant at the Foreign Office, said it would damage Britain’s global reputation if Reeves chose to reduce aid as she looks for savings across Whitehall in this year’s spending review.

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Source: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/feb/20/former-foreign-office-head-warns-reeves-not-to-cut-international-aid