Anneliese Dodds has resigned

Good for her.

Had a strop because her budget was cut to enable our defence budget to be increased without further taxation (at present …). What’s more important?

theworriedwell

Good for her.

Agreed.

I can really understand how she feels, I feel gutted too about the cuts. She fully supports the increase in Defence Spending but doesn't think it should have come from the Aid Budget. I agree there could be a knock on effect from some of the cuts.

However I don't feel there was a lot of choice: the cuts are from 0.5 to 0.3 of national spending.

Dodds case is laid out in this report as well as possible international fall-out, some which seems possible but not all:

www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cpv44982jlgo

It feels to me in the short term that means making sure that cuts dont hit direct humanitarian aid.

Good for her to stand up for her department in view of the catastrophic reduction in its budget. Having said that I don’t think the government had any choice now that Trump is president and I’m pretty sure that Starmer has hated having to do it. The whole world ( apart from Russia) is treading on political eggshells at the moment.

A spokesperson from the army said that the safety of the citizens of the UK has to come first so an increase in spending on defence is essential.
It is hard to cut aid but we are still giving some aid.

It a shame that we’re in this position of having to cut foreign aid.

But, if we don’t adequately defend our own country, and the unthinkable happens here, what help would we be to the underdeveloped world then?

Like they say on planes … in the event of an emergency put your own oxygen mask on first before helping others with theirs.

I think we in Europe are closer to that emergency than many people want to acknowledge.

Hear hear Lizzie.

Well done her. It is not a choice between defending ourselves and giving aid overseas, the one supports the other.

As she pointed out, the worry is that Russia and China will now get a foothold in the countries that we are reducing aid to. There’s so much more to aid than people realise. And it will result in more people fleeing their homelands for somewhere they think will be safer. What a mess the world is in.

Whilst I am in favour of overseas aid I think we should be told where it goes.

Skydancer

Whilst I am in favour of overseas aid I think we should be told where it goes.

And how exactly it is spent.

The budget is not being cut completely. I'm sure those in most need will continue to get help. A lot of money is wasted or being given to those who don't really need it.
It's about time this government did a bit of housekeeping and started looking at reducing wastage instead of making the British public pay out even more.

LizzieDrip

It a shame that we’re in this position of having to cut foreign aid.

But, if we don’t adequately defend our own country, and the unthinkable happens here, what help would we be to the underdeveloped world then?

Like they say on planes … in the event of an emergency put your own oxygen mask on first before helping others with theirs.

I think we in Europe are closer to that emergency than many people want to acknowledge.

Well said LizzieDrip

I don't think resigning was the right thing to do.
It seems like running away when things get tough. She should have stayed and done the very best she could for her department despite the cuts.

I tried to look it up but its absolutely labyrinthine in terms of different categories- the information is out there but we could do with a basics guide.

(where aid goes)

Ilovecheese

Well done her. It is not a choice between defending ourselves and giving aid overseas, the one supports the other.

The one supports the other? Perhaps you could explain.

I sympathise with Dodds feelings but I support the government’s action.
Dodds is more to the left than centre so I understand her resignation. It is principled but won’t change anything other than give those who want to criticise and under in the government a cheer

I admire her moral compass but disagree with her decision.

She's a good minister and I hope she gets another cabinet post next t ime there's a reshuffle.
Unfortunately the defence of the realm is the first duty of government.

Barleyfields

Ilovecheese

Well done her. It is not a choice between defending ourselves and giving aid overseas, the one supports the other.

The one supports the other? Perhaps you could explain.

It is as MayBee70 says. I will quote the post:
"As she pointed out, the worry is that Russia and China will now get a foothold in the countries that we are reducing aid to. There’s so much more to aid than people realise. And it will result in more people fleeing their homelands for somewhere they think will be safer. What a mess the world is in."

She was a good hard working member of the cabinet.

Ilovecheese

Barleyfields

Ilovecheese

Well done her. It is not a choice between defending ourselves and giving aid overseas, the one supports the other.

The one supports the other? Perhaps you could explain.

It is as MayBee70 says. I will quote the post:
"As she pointed out, the worry is that Russia and China will now get a foothold in the countries that we are reducing aid to. There’s so much more to aid than people realise. And it will result in more people fleeing their homelands for somewhere they think will be safer. What a mess the world is in."

China's money and influence is in most countries anyway, including the UK.

True, but that's not really a reason to give up and let them have it all.