Keir Starmer said more development funding could be used to fund defence

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has refused to rule out further cuts to the UK aid budget to help fund more spending on defence. 

Unveiling the government's defence spending plans in Glasgow the Labour leader was asked whether ministers would look to slash more from the Official Development Assistance (ODA) budget. 

In response, Starmer said cutting the aid budget was a difficult decision, that he wants to work with other countries to get more money into aid spending, and that the best way to raise money for more public spending is by promoting growth.

The refusal comes after the UK Government cut international aid budgets from 0.5% of gross national income (GNI) to 0.3% of GNI to fund greater defence spending. 

The move was widely condemned by NGOs and aid groups, with the government’s international development minister quitting as a result. 

Labour had previously committed in its manifesto to increasing ODA to the previous level of 0.7% of GNI. 

Gideon Rabinowitz, director of policy and advocacy at Bond, the UK network for organisations working in international development and humanitarian assistance, said: "It is disappointing that the prime minister has failed to rule out further cuts to the UK aid budget to fund defence spending. 

“Defence, diplomacy and development are not competing priorities, they are part of the same triangle. Slashing the development budget while boosting defence breaks this balance and puts long-term global security at risk. 

“You don’t strengthen our national security by weakening the very tools that prevent global conflict, fight poverty, tackle hunger, and protect us against future pandemics. 

“The government must urgently publish an impact assessment explaining their decisions for the cuts.”