Brian Leishman said the reduction in funding was not the answer.
A Scottish MP has described the UK Government’s decision to cut international aid as a “moral failing and a false economy”.
Brian Leishman, who represents Alloa and Grangemouth, hit out at the UK Government over the decision to cut international aid from 0.5% of gross national income to 0.3%.
Sir Keir Starmer announced in February the reduction to international aid funding - which the Labour Party opposed prior to election and previously said should indeed be increased - will be used to fund defence spending increases.
Writing in The House magazine, the Scottish Labour MP has now said the “global economy stacked in the favour of the few, at the expense of the many, and the cost of living crisis has not gone away”.
He said the working class globally are facing enormous challenges which seem “daunting if not outright overwhelming”, saying the Labour government’s response to these pressures should be shaped by the values and principles of “respecting human rights, compassion and fighting for social justice”.
The Alloa and Grangemouth politician said money could be raising in other ways, including introducing a wealth tax on those with assets worth more than £10million - which he claims could raise around £24bn.
Mr Leishman wrote in The House: “To cut overseas aid is a moral failing. It is also a poor financial choice and a false economy. Foreign aid is an investment in global security and a brighter future. By committing to making the world a better and safer place, we can avoid huge security expenses down the line.
“Helping others in need is our duty as human beings. It also means fewer people are being left behind in desperate situations, which often fuel radical ideas and action. Promoting rule-based systems, reducing the impact of climate change, and working towards other overseas development goals are long-term investments in our own national security.
“Let us not push people to the brink. Let us prevent conflict, rather than deal with the deadly consequences that arise from inequality and insecurity. I am horrified at the prospect of cutting aid in areas already devastated by conflict, such as Sudan, Yemen, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Syria and Gaza.
“We cannot turn our backs on those facing extreme poverty, war and insecurity. We cannot allow our credibility to be diminished.
“This is a political decision because we know funds could be raised in other ways. The UK government rightly needs to adjust to new realities, but cutting foreign aid is simply not the answer.”
