Sir Keir rebuffed this charge, but Ms Dodds is right to say his move is being seen as following the Trumpian lead in cutting USAid – a framing that implies the UK is losing its independent foreign policy direction.
The former cabinet minister’s letter is right to warn that the cuts will mean the UK withdrawing from many developing countries and having a diminished role in global institutions like the World Bank, the G7 and climate negotiations.
Sir Keir Starmer’s decision to cut the aid budget to “pay” for increased defence spending was wrong.
From her perch in government Ms Dodds, who was Sir Keir’s first shadow chancellor, knew this better than most.
She pointedly argued Britain will find it “impossible” to deliver on its commitment to maintain development spending in Gaza, Sudan and Ukraine with the shrunken budget.
