MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
UK reduces foreign aid spending; Baroness Sugg resigns over the decision, “it's fundamentally wrong”
The announcement by finance minister Rishi Sunak as part of an annual review of government spending, will be popular among some voters and media 
The government minister for sustainable development and Overseas Territories, Baroness Sugg, resigned over the decision, saying it was “fundamentally wrong” 
Several senior members of the ruling Conservative Party, including former foreign minister Jeremy Hunt, also criticized the decision Britain reduced its foreign aid spending commitment on Wednesday to 0.5% of gross domestic product from 0.7%, causing junior minister Baroness Liz Sugg to resign and an immediate outcry from development organizations and the spiritual head of the Church of England.
The move, announced by finance minister Rishi Sunak as part of an annual review of government spending, will be popular among some voters and media who argue that COVID and the resulting economic crisis mean Britain should spend less on aid.
“During a domestic fiscal emergency, when we need to prioritize our limited resources on jobs and public services, sticking rigidly to spending 0.7% of our national income on overseas aid is difficult to justify,” Sunak said in a speech to parliament, pointing to record high peacetime borrowing levels.
He said aid spending would rise to 0.7% again when fiscal conditions allowed, but did not set a target date.
The government minister for sustainable development and Overseas Territories, Baroness Sugg, resigned over the decision, saying it was “fundamentally wrong” to cut aid spending and diminished Britain’s global influence.
A person close to her said that while Raab was not blindsided by the announcement, it was Johnson and Sunak who made a final decision and on the basis of politics, not economics. Foreign aid totaled 15.2 billion pounds last year.
Several senior members of the ruling Conservative Party, including former foreign minister Jeremy Hunt, also criticized the decision, hinting at a possible rebellion in parliament.
“To cut our aid budget by a third in a year when millions more will fall into extreme poverty will make not just them poorer, but us poorer in the eyes of the world,” Hunt said.
The announcement was also criticized by Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, the head of the Anglican Communion, who called it shameful and wrong.
Development and environment charities said the move was short-sighted.
“Cutting the aid budget during a global pandemic is like closing fire stations during a heat wave,” said Patrick Watt of Christian Aid.
Oxfam said the decision would diminish British influence and leadership at a time when both were badly needed
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