Unite represents thousands of workers in the no-for-profit sector. 

A charity workers union is calling on the government to urgently rethink its financial plans, following the announcement of increased defence spending.

Unite has welcomed the increase in defence spending and supports a further increase to three per cent as soon as possible, however the union does not believe that it should come at the expense of international aid funding.

Unite represents thousands of workers in the no-for-profit sector across the UK. 

As a result of the planned cut in international aid many of the main development charities are already scaling back their work overseas, resulting in job losses in the UK and abroad.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “The government needs to rethink these cuts to international aid funding to ensure that the sector does not haemorrhage jobs and lose vital skills and knowledge.

“In an increasingly uncertain world, we should be adequately funding both international development and defence spending.”

The union is now calling for a reversal of the decision to cut international development funding, and a refocusing of existing aid programmes to concentrate on local delivery in developing nations.

Unite national officer Andy Murray said: “The UK has a long and proud history of being a leader in promoting international development. That reputation and commitment must remain in place.

“The previous government did a lot of damage to the UK’s international standing and soft power abroad. This government must work with workers and organisations in the sector to ensure that international aid is spent on genuine frontline international development and humanitarian projects in the places most in need.”