Anneliese Dodds has resigned

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.

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.

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.

Skydancer

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

And how exactly it is spent.

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

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.

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

Hear hear Lizzie.

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.

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.

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.

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.

theworriedwell

Good for her.

Agreed.

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?

Good for her.