International

Conservative plans for sharp foreign aid cuts challenge UK’s global leadership

Monday, 6 October 2025 4:05AM UTC

The Conservative Party unveils a radical proposal to reduce the UK’s foreign aid budget to 0.1% of GNI, sparking criticism amid broader austerity measures targeting welfare, civil service, and green subsidies.

The Conservative Party is positioning itself for a stringent fiscal overhaul with plans to further slash the UK's foreign aid budget, reflecting a broader effort to re-establish its credentials for financial responsibility following the economic turbulence linked to the Truss mini-budget. Shadow Chancellor Sir Mel Stride outlined a proposal to reduce overseas development aid to 0.1% of Gross National Income (GNI), significantly lower than the current 0.3%, a move projected to save approximately £47 billion over the next parliamentary term. This announcement was made in his keynote speech at the Conservative Party conference in Manchester, where he also committed to comprehensive cuts spanning welfare, the civil service, and green subsidies.

The shift indicates a decisive break from previous Conservative commitments. The foreign aid budget, once set at 0.7% of GNI under David Cameron’s government in 2011, has already seen reductions—first to 0.5% in 2021 during the pandemic, and more recently cut to 0.3% under Prime Minister Keir Starmer's administration to bolster defence spending. Starmer’s reduction aimed to fund an increase in defence and security budgets to meet NATO targets, culminating in £9.4 billion foreign aid spending projected for 2028-29. Despite these cuts, the Conservative plan dwarfs this by proposing a new baseline of 0.1%, around £3 billion annually. This level of aid reduction provoked criticism from international development organisations. Romilly Greenhill, chief executive of Bond—a network of organisations focused on aid and humanitarian assistance—denounced the move at a fringe event during the conference, calling it "reckless, short-sighted, and morally indefensible," warning it would jeopardise vital health programmes and the UK’s ability to respond to global crises.

The Conservative rationale hinges on the principle of fiscal prudence: the party insists it is unsustainable to continue ‘taxing people in this country to pay for billions of spending abroad.’ Sir Mel Stride reinforced this stance by asserting the party’s commitment to transparency in fiscal commitments, contrasting with the financial instability experienced after the Truss mini-budget, which saw sterling weaken and interest rates escalate. The proposed plan also includes sweeping cuts beyond foreign aid: welfare spending is targeted for reductions of £23 billion by tightening eligibility, including restricting sickness benefits and limiting support to British citizens only, aligning with Reform UK’s policies. The party also proposes a reduction in civil service headcount by over 130,000 positions to pre-2016 levels, promising an £8 billion saving.

Additionally, the Conservatives aim to scrap the Climate Change Act and curtail green subsidies, citing £1.6 billion in potential annual savings. Another distinctive policy includes closing all asylum hotels, estimated to save at least £3.5 billion, part of a broader immigration enforcement strategy featuring a new Immigration Control Enforcement force, designed to remove 150,000 illegal migrants per year.

Critics from across the political spectrum have swiftly condemned these proposals. Labour Party chair Anna Turley pointed to the Tory track record of escalating welfare costs and civil service numbers during their previous terms and rejected the plans as a rehash of failed policies. The Liberal Democrats also criticised the Conservatives for failing to learn the economic lessons of recent years, characterising the cuts as part of continuing "Trussonomics"—the controversial economic agenda initiated under Liz Truss that destabilised the economy. Moreover, humanitarian charities and NGOs have warned that diminishing the UK’s aid contributions will not only harm vulnerable populations worldwide but also damage the UK’s standing and influence on the global stage.

This proposed radical reduction follows a series of recent cuts that have eroded the UK's traditional aid commitments—cuts that already caused high-profile resignations, such as that of Anneliese Dodds, the former International Development Minister, who stepped down in protest over the Labour government's aid reductions. The ongoing shift illustrates a broader trend where aid budgets are sacrificed to boost defence spending amid heightened geopolitical tensions, particularly in support of Ukraine and European security.

As the UK debates these challenging fiscal decisions, the tension between domestic economic priorities and international humanitarian responsibilities remains front and centre, reflecting a complex balancing act that will shape the country’s global role and domestic wellbeing in the years ahead.

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Source: Noah Wire Services

More on this

https://www.coastfm.co.uk/news/politics/shadow-chancellor-to-pledge-further-cuts-to - Please view link - unable to able to access data
https://news.sky.com/story/shadow-chancellor-to-pledge-further-cuts-to-foreign-aid-as-tories-vow-to-stand-up-for-fiscal-responsibility-13445571 - In his keynote speech at the Conservative Party conference in Manchester, Shadow Chancellor Sir Mel Stride announced plans to reduce the UK's overseas development aid to 0.1% of Gross National Income (GNI), down from the current 0.3%. This move aims to save £47 billion over the next parliament and is part of a broader strategy to cut welfare, civil service expenses, and green subsidies. The decision follows the Truss mini-budget, which led to a decline in the pound and rising interest rates. Sir Mel emphasised the party's commitment to fiscal responsibility, stating they would 'never, ever make fiscal commitments without spelling out exactly how they will be paid for'.
https://www.thecanary.co/uk/analysis/2024/10/31/international-aid-budget-cut/ - In the Autumn Budget presented by Chancellor Rachel Reeves on 30 October 2024, the UK government reduced the international aid budget from 0.58% to 0.5% of Gross National Income (GNI). This decision effectively cuts £2 billion from the aid budget, amounting to a real-term reduction. The move has been criticised by non-governmental organisations and charities, which warn of its adverse effects on global aid and the UK's international reputation.
https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/uk-development-minister-quits-over-pm-starmers-cut-aid-budget-2025-02-28/ - Anneliese Dodds, the UK's International Development Minister, resigned following Prime Minister Keir Starmer's decision to reduce the foreign aid budget from 0.5% to 0.3% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to fund increased defence spending. Dodds argued that the cuts would significantly impact Britain's humanitarian aid efforts and harm the UK's global reputation. The decision has been met with criticism from humanitarian charities, which warn of its potential negative effects on those in need of assistance.
https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/uk-to-reduce-aid-to-0-3-of-gross-national-income-from-2027/ - In February 2025, Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced that the UK would reduce its aid spending from 0.5% to 0.3% of Gross National Income (GNI) by 2027. This reduction is intended to fund an increase in defence and security spending, which will reach 2.6% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2027. The decision has sparked criticism from humanitarian organisations and opposition parties, which warn of its potential negative impact on global aid and the UK's international standing.
https://www.civilserviceworld.com/news/article/government-to-slash-aid-to-fund-defence-boost - Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced plans to cut the UK's foreign aid spending from 0.5% to 0.3% of Gross National Income (GNI) to fund an increase in defence spending. The decision has been met with criticism from humanitarian organisations, which warn of its potential negative impact on global aid and the UK's international reputation. The move marks a departure from the previous commitment to spend 0.7% of GNI on aid, which was reduced during the COVID-19 pandemic.
https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/charities-appalled-by-uk-cut-aid-budget-fund-defence-spending-2025-02-25/ - The UK government's decision to cut its international aid budget to increase defence spending has sparked outrage among humanitarian charities. Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced the plan to raise defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027, eventually targeting 3%, in support of Ukraine and European security. This will result in a reduction of the aid budget from 0.5% to 0.3% of Gross National Income. Charities, including the International Rescue Committee, Global Justice Now, UNICEF, and Oxfam, condemned the decision, highlighting its potential to harm the UK's international reputation and negatively affect those in need of humanitarian assistance.

Noah Fact Check Pro

The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may warrant further investigation.

Freshness check

Score: 10

Notes: The narrative is fresh, with no evidence of prior publication. The earliest known publication date is October 6, 2025, aligning with the Conservative Party conference in Manchester. ([news.sky.com](https://news.sky.com/story/shadow-chancellor-to-pledge-further-cuts-to-foreign-aid-as-tories-vow-to-stand-up-for-fiscal-responsibility-13445571?utm_source=openai))

Quotes check

Score: 10

Notes: No direct quotes were identified in the provided text, suggesting original content.

Source reliability

Score: 8

Notes: The narrative originates from Coast FM, a local radio station. While it provides detailed coverage, its reach and verification processes are less established compared to major national outlets.

Plausability check

Score: 9

Notes: The claims align with recent political developments, including Sir Mel Stride's appointment as Shadow Chancellor in November 2024 ([theguardian.com](https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2024/nov/04/kemi-badenoch-appoints-mel-stride-and-priti-patel-to-shadow-cabinet?utm_source=openai)) and his subsequent repudiation of Liz Truss's 2022 mini-budget in June 2025 ([theguardian.com](https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/jun/05/tories-never-again-risk-economy-like-liz-truss-mel-stride?utm_source=openai)). The proposed cuts to foreign aid and other areas are consistent with the Conservative Party's fiscal policies. However, the lack of direct quotes and reliance on a single source warrant cautious interpretation.

Overall assessment

Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): OPEN

Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM

Summary: The narrative presents fresh content with plausible claims consistent with recent political events. However, the reliance on a single, less-established source and the absence of direct quotes necessitate further verification from additional reputable outlets to confirm the accuracy and authenticity of the information.

UK politics
foreign aid
fiscal policy