Meeting the 0.3% floor is a test of whether it is serious about its commitment to international cooperation, says Callum Northcote
That the UK might miss its 0.3% target on international development spending is rubbing salt into an open wound (Report, 26 October). The UK’s development budget, which tackles global challenges and is a lifeline to millions around the world, has been repeatedly cut over the past five years – it’s estimated that 62 million fewer people will be supported by UK aid around the world in 2026-27 compared with 2019.
When the Labour government announced it was cutting aid to 0.3% of gross national income, it committed to ensuring that this would be the floor, with the intention to increase funding again over time. This must hold true if the government is serious about rebuilding its international reputation. The government has instead used clever accounting techniques at the expense of communities around the world – and what it promised voters it would be spending their money on.