Slashing of UK's international aid more responsible than Trump's overnight cuts, minister claims
Charities and international aid experts have lined up to decry the UK cuts, first announced in February, which will bring spending from 0.5 per cent to 0.3 per cent of gross national income (GNI). A report also published on Tuesday by the Independent Commission for Aid Impact found UK aid spending overseas could fall to as low as 0.24 per cent once spending at home on asylum accommodation was factored in.
But development minister Jenny Chapman has told MPs that 'not all aid cuts are the same and I think the way that we've done it… is slowly and in a considered way'.
'I would contrast that to the way that others have done it, where medications just stop being distributed overnight, where I know of warehouses with vaccines that there's no way of distributing,' Baroness Chapman said. 'That's a real problem and that will have a huge impact.'
In the US, Trump cut roughly 80 per cent of foreign aid spending virtually overnight, in a move that could cause 14 million extra deaths by 2030. The speed of the cuts caused chaos as clinics closed, access to lifesaving medicines was disrupted and health staff didn't know if they could turn up to work one day to the next.
Baroness Chapman added that the withdrawal of the United States from global health funding was proving a 'huge problem' but that, 'it isn't possible for us to backfill that capacity sadly'.
Baroness Chapman also confirmed during the session of parliament's international development committee that a world-leading programme to tackle antimicrobial resistance was being cut and suggested a project giving millions access to contraception was under question.
The scale of the UK cuts means they are expected to hit virtually all programmes. Even when it comes to the global vaccine alliance, Gavi, of which the UK has been a major champion and is now the biggest funder, its contribution this year fell by £400 million.
Baroness Chapman said antimicrobial resistance and the risk of another pandemic were the two biggest threats facing the UK's health security, but public health and prevention minister Ashley Dalton confirmed during the session that the Fleming programme, which supports countries in Africa and Asia to monitor and prevent antimicrobial resistance, has already been cancelled.
Antimicrobial resistance happens when antibiotics are used too much or incorrectly, causing germs to evolve resistance against them and creating dangerous illnesses that can't easily be treated with the available drugs. Resistant bug strains can cross borders and the phenomenon is estimated to kill a million people a year.
Asked about a programme to family planning access and information to 2.6 million women and girls across West and Central Africa, Baroness Chapman said she was 'looking at it'.
The minister has previously signalled that specialised programmes for women and girls may be hit hard by the cuts.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
2 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Donald Trump meets John Swinney for private talks before star-studded golf match on final day of Scotland trip
The US President is welcoming a host of A-listers for a star-studded golf match to open his new Aberdeenshire course DON THE COURSE Donald Trump meets John Swinney for private talks before star-studded golf match on final day of Scotland trip Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) DONALD Trump has officially opened his new Scottish golf course - his final stop in Scotland before Air Force One departs later today. Last night he flew from Turnberry to the North East and hosted a private dinner with dignitaries including the Prime Minister, First Minister, and high profile business people. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Donald Trump has officially opened his new course in Aberdeenshire Credit: AFP 3 The US President and Sir Keir Starmer after their crunch talks at Turnberry on Monday Credit: Reuters 3 Donald Trump and Keir Starmer wave as they board Air Force One at Prestwick Airport ahead of a flight to north-east Scotland Mr Trump and Sir Keir landed at Menie aboard Marine One, the president's helicopter, which was seen circling the new course before it touched down on Monday evening. Before teeing off at Trump International, the US President met with John Swinney for a private one-to-one. It was the first time the pair have met since they clashed in November last year when the SNP leader called on US voters to back his Democratic rival Kamala Harris in the US Presidential election - leading his UK-based business to slam the endorsement as an 'insult'. The President opened the 'new course' at Trump International in Menie, just north of Aberdeen, at a 'grand opening' ceremony shortly before 11am. He thanked his son Eric, who he said had "worked so hard" on creating the New Course at the resort. Trump International's 'new course' is the second at the venue since the newly named 'old course' opened in 2012. The new 18 holes measures 7,589 yards - with Trump International now self-styled as the 'greatest 36 holes in golf'. Mr Trump made a short speech on the first tee of the course before playing a round. It comes after Mr Trump yesterday hosted an 80-minute televised press conference with the Prime Minister after meeting with Sir Keir Starmer at his other golf course at Turnberry, Ayrshire. In it, he blasted wind power - slamming wind turbines as 'ugly monsters' - and urged more drilling in the North Sea. Furious Trump says he'll CUT Putin's 50-day peace deadline and says he's 'disappointed' after latest ruthless Kyiv blitz And he poured cold water on the possibility of a second independence referendum within the next '50 or 75 years'. He also spoke of his love for Scotland due to his late mother's birthplace being in the Isle of Lewis and said: 'My mother loved Scotland. This is a part of the world I want to see thrive.' The second course at Trump International is expected to be dedicated to the president's mother, Mary Anne MacLeod, who was born on the Isle of Lewis.
The Herald Scotland
3 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
Analysis: Is Scottish independence the politics of yesteryear?
Earlier in the day First Minister had set out what he argued would be a mechanism for holding indyref2, stating in a column in the Daily Record that the SNP must return a majority of MSPs in next year's Holyrood election to be able to 'secure' a new vote on independence. Pointing to the [[Holyrood]] majority the [[SNP]] won, under Alex Salmond in 2011, which paved the way for the 2024 referendum, Mr Swinney said that was the 'only mechanism that has been proved to deliver such a vote'. READ MORE: It was a shift away from the approach taken by former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon that a [[SNP]] led Scottish Government could start discussions about a new vote if independence supporting parties won a majority in [[Holyrood]]. Asked for a response to this news, the PM said the current 'volatility' on the global stage proved the importance of the United Kingdom. He said: 'At a time like this, when it's quite clear that there's uncertainty and volatility around the world, the strength of the United Kingdom together is very important for all four nations, very important for Scotland, and that should be our priority, that should be our focus – not on the politics which feels like the politics of yesteryear now, at a time like this." Mr Swinney's strategy does certainly, as he himself openly admits, hark back to previous (and better days) for the SNP. And for Sir Keir Starmer it would of course be highly convenient if he was correct that independence is the politics of yesteryear. He wouldn't face regular reminders that as things stand a majority of Scots want Scotland to become independent, and he wouldn't have to face awkward questions about that situation in front of world leaders, such as Mr Trump. But while the Prime Minister is right to suggest that many voters have other priorities on their mind - recent polling suggest the NHS, the cost of living and the state of public services are uppermost concerns - it does not mean that independence is a concern of the past. The same Ipsos poll published earlier this month which set out voters' priorities, put support for independence at 52%, while previous surveys have found that younger voters are more likely to support independence. However, the challenge for Mr Swinney is now to win that majority and at the moment that task while not impossible looks very difficult. When the SNP won its Holyrood majority under Mr Salmond the party took 69 seats, winning 45% of the vote in the constituency seats and 44% in the regional seats. The latest polling suggests the party is on course to win 34% of the vote in the constituencies and 26% on the list with analysis suggesting the figures point to 59 seats for the SNP, six short of a majority. If Mr Swinney's achieves his goal, it will certainly heap the pressure on Sir Keir Starmer to agree to a second independence vote, but if he doesn't it will raise questions over his leadership, and strengthen the arguments for the pro-UK parties that demands for indyref2 must be set aside in the next Parliament.
The National
3 hours ago
- The National
London college teaching Israeli soldiers during Gaza genocide revealed
Following months of stonewalling from ministers and officials from two consecutive UK governments, it has been revealed by Declassified that the London-based Royal College of Defence Studies (RCDS) has been training Israeli army officers. At least two Israeli colonels have attended the British military academy in central London during the war on Gaza since October 7, 2023. It has been reported that one of the soldiers, thought to be Elad Edri, only graduated a fortnight ago. READ MORE: Zarah Sultana reveals preference for name of new party Meanwhile, Yeftah Norkin, another officer, has led a division of the Israeli military in its invasion of Lebanon after completing a course at the college in 2024. Norkin, who comes from an influential military family, reportedly commanded a unit during Israel's 2008-9 war on Gaza, which killed hundreds of children. RCDS is regarded as a prestigious institution for military learning and mentors mid-ranking troops who aim to climb the chain of command and awards them with a certificate for international security studies. The institution describes itself as 'a world-renowned institution committed to developing strategic thinkers… who have the potential to reach the highest ranks'. Meanwhile, RCDS alumni include prominent figures within the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) including former spokesperson and Major General Hidai Zilberman and previous Chief of Staff of Israel's Southern Command, General Harel Knfao. The investigation by Declassified comes after it was revealed in June that the UK is hosting and training soldiers from the IDF despite allegations that the military is engaged in genocide in Palestine. (Image: Google Maps) Confirmation that the UK was training Israeli troops came after Labour MP for York Central Rachael Maskell submitted a written question at Westminster which asked, 'when the last time was that a member of the Israel Defense Forces was trained by the UK armed forces'. In a response, Armed Forces Minister Luke Pollard admitted that the UK was 'currently' training IDF soldiers in the UK. Pollard said: 'As part of routine defence engagement with Israel, the UK is currently training a limited number of Israel Defense Forces personnel on UK-based training courses.' MPs were also recently told that 'less than five' Israeli troops were studying in the UK on 'academic courses' at undisclosed locations. Declassified said they were repeatedly refused the information about which institutions were teaching IFD soldiers until last week, when the Ministry of Defence (MoD) disclosed that Israeli troops were being mentored at RCDS. The Freedom of Information Request said that fewer than five officers had trained at the college in 2023 and 2024 and the MoD did not offer the names and ranks of the officers or provide figures for 2025.
