Bond hit out at the proposal put forward by the official opposition at Westminster 

A network of UK aid organisations has criticised a proposal by the Conservatives to cut aid to levels even lower than those imposed by the current Labour government. 

During the party’s conference this week, Shadow Chancellor Mel Stride announced the Tories would slash UK Official Development Assistance (ODA) even further stating: "the Conservatives will deliver serious cuts to the overseas aid budget."

The party aims to spend 0.1% of gross national income (GNI) on overseas aid, down from the current level of 0.3% - which will be at 0.2% by the next election - and a fraction of the 0.5% which the Tories spent when they left office last year. 

Romilly Greenhill, CEO of Bond, the UK network for organisations working in international development and humanitarian assistance, said: “The Conservatives’ deplorable decision to slash the already diminished UK aid budget even further is reckless, short-sighted, and morally indefensible. It undermines our legal obligations and signals the Conservatives want the UK to retreat even further as a trusted global partner.

“Marginalised communities who have already borne the brunt of previous cuts will once again pay the price, particularly women and girls and those experiencing conflict. Cutting UK aid doesn’t make us stronger, it makes the world, and the UK, less safe.

“Slashing the UK aid budget even further will put our long-term national security at risk by dismantling the very systems that prevent the escalation of conflict, tackles the root causes of poverty and climate change, and protect us against future pandemics. 

“We urge the party to rethink this irresponsible decision.”