Anneliese Dodds Resigns Over Labour's Aid Cuts to Fund Defence

The international development minister steps down, citing disagreement with Keir Starmer's decision to reduce foreign aid to increase defence spending.

Anneliese Dodds resigned as international development minister after Labour announced cuts to overseas aid to fund a rise in defence spending.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer plans to increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027, reducing aid from 0.5% to 0.3% of national income to support this shift.
Dodds expressed concerns that the cuts would harm UK humanitarian efforts in areas like Gaza, Sudan, and Ukraine and damage the country's global reputation.
While supporting the need for increased defence funding, Dodds disagreed with placing the entire financial burden on the aid budget without exploring alternatives like tax adjustments.
Her resignation highlights internal tensions within Labour, with critics warning the decision aligns too closely with U.S. policies under President Trump.