David Miliband set out proposals in a speech in London
The president of the International Rescue Committee (IRC) has said the UK’s approach to aid must change in the face of swinging cuts made by the Labour Government.
David Miliband, himself a former Labour foreign secretary from 2007 to 2010, made a speech last week in which he said he regretted the cuts being made to international aid, but that it was time to mitigate the danger posed by the decision.
Earlier this year the Labour Government announced plans to cut the UK’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) funding from 0.5% of GNI to 0.3% by 2027, in order to fund an increase to the defence budget.
Work to cut the ODA budget began last month, with Chancellor Rachel Reeves included the plans in her 2025/26 budget.
Speaking at Chatham House in London, Miliband said the commitment to an aid budget worth 0.3% of national income should “mean just that”, and should not include refugee and asylum costs, or a range of other calls on the resource.
He added that the UK Government should prioritise which programs receive funding, and that innovation should be supported to maximise the impact of ODA funding.
The IRC CEO and president also wanted to see the UK work with allies in Euorpe to “pool resources and make aid money go further”.
He said: “The decision to cut the aid budget has been made. I regret it. But now it has been made, the danger can either be mitigated or magnified.
“This is a moment of flux across the international policy terrain. Global risks, technological revolution and geopolitical fragmentation are combining to break up old systems. That is nowhere more true than in the drive to help the poorest people in the world. There are big dangers, but also opportunities for leadership.
“I have been inspired by the commitment, innovation and value for money of the aid sector that I have seen over the last ten years. I don’t believe that responsibility from richer to poorer should be cut back. But we will only rebuild it with an agenda that is clearer, more impactful and more focused. I hope that is the debate we can now have.”
