Sir Keir said he was “proud of that vote”, adding: “This is not a decision that I want to make, and I absolutely want us to get back to more funding on overseas development and back increasing those capabilities.”.
Speaking from the Conservative backbenches, Mr Mitchell said: “I agree entirely with the strategic direction the Prime Minister has set out today, defence and security must come first.
He said: “Aside from a few of Putin’s poodles who are not in their seats in this chamber here today, we are of course united in our support for the people of Ukraine and indeed in wishing the Prime Minister well in his discussions with the president of the United States later this week.
The Prime Minister is “balancing the books on the backs of the poorest people in the world” in a bid to increase defence spending, a former international development secretary has suggested.
Sir Keir replied: “The decision that I’ve taken today on development aid is not an ideological decision, and I absolutely understand the importance of it.
