Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.
Minister Anneliese Dodds has dramatically resigned from the government over Sir Keir Starmer’s decision to slash the UK’s foreign aid budget.
The minister, who attended cabinet, warned the move would bolster Russia, despite the prime minister’s claims the cash would be used to hike defence spending and hit back at “tyrants” like Putin.
The move will come as a blow to the prime minister after he jetted back to the UK overnight from a crunch meeting with Donald Trump and before he holds an EU leaders summit on Ukraine this weekend.
In her letter to the prime minister, reported by the Guardian, she wrote: “The cut will also likely lead to a UK pullout from numerous African, Caribbean and western Balkan nations at a time when Russia has been aggressively increasing its global presence.”
“All this while China is seeking to rewrite global rules, and when the climate crisis is the biggest security threat of them all.”
She added: “Undoubtedly the postwar global order has come crashing down. I believe that we must increase spending on defence as a result; and know that there are no easy paths to doing so.
“I stood ready to work with you to deliver that increased spending, knowing some might well have had to come from overseas development assistance [ODA]. I also expected we would collectively discuss our fiscal rules and approach to taxation, as other nations are doing.
“Even 3% may only be the start, and it will be impossible to raise the substantial resources needed just through tactical cuts to public spending. These are unprecedented times, when strategic decisions for the sake of our country’s security cannot be ducked.”
Ms Dodds revealed that she had only been told about the decision by the PM on Monday.
She decided to delay her resignation so it did not overshadow the prime minister’s trip to Washington to make the case to Donald Trump for security guarantees for Ukraine.
Earlier this week a former deputy foreign secretary warned Russia and China would benefit from the plans to slash the foreign aid budget.
Sir Keir defended his controversial cuts saying he would use the cash to hit back at “tyrants” like Putin.
But Andrew Mitchell warned the move would actually aid Russia, three years after its illegal invasion of Ukraine.
In an article for the Independent he also suggested Labour had turned its back on its own principles, pointing out that Sir Keir argued against reductions to the overseas aid budget under the Conservatives.
He praised Ms Dodds’ decision to resign, telling the Independent: “Anneliese has done the right thing: Labour’s disgraceful and cynical actions demean the Labour Party ‘s reputation as they balance the books on the backs of the poorest people in the world . Shame on them and kudos to a politician of decency and principle.“
No 10 declined to get into any private meetings between Ms Dodds and the prime minister.
More follows…
