Dodds resigned on Friday, cautioning that the significant budget cut would make it “impossible to maintain these priorities” and warning that its impact would be “far greater than presented.”
The former development minister, who previously held the position of Starmer’s shadow chancellor, expressed concerns that the decision could force Britain to withdraw aid from several nations in Africa, the Caribbean, and the Western Balkans—just as Russia is aggressively expanding its global influence.
She also warned that the U.K.’s role in major international organizations such as the G7, G20, and World Bank would be diminished, leaving Britain “shut out” of key multilateral discussions. Additionally, she cautioned against the move being seen as following the trajectory of Trump’s cuts to the U.S. Agency for International Development.
Dodds stated that she delayed her resignation until after Starmer’s Thursday meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump to ensure the Cabinet remained united. However, the departure of a close ally is still a setback for the prime minister, particularly after his meeting with Trump was largely well-received.
Her decision was supported by former Conservative International Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell.
“Labour’s disgraceful and cynical actions undermine the party’s reputation as they balance the books at the expense of the world’s poorest people,” Mitchell told POLITICO. “Shame on them, and credit to a politician of integrity and principle.”
Development spending was previously reduced by the Conservative government from 0.7 percent to 0.5 percent of national income in 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The party also eliminated the U.K.’s dedicated aid department.
Stefan Boscia contributed reporting.
Leave a Reply