Starmer Confronted with 'Hypocrisy' Allegations Following Significant Reduction in UK Aid Funding
Prime Minister Keir Starmer is facing severe accusations of hypocrisy after his government implemented a substantial reduction in the United Kingdom's financial contribution to the United Nations World Food Programme. The Labour leader, who upon entering government vocally pledged to prioritise the global "fight against hunger" and committed to tackling "suffering and starvation" at a G20 summit in Brazil, has overseen a cut in funding from $610 million (£448 million) in 2024 to $435 million (£319 million) last year.
Former Minister Warns Cuts 'Will Cost Lives' as Global Hunger Crisis Escalates
Michael Bates, a Conservative peer and former international development minister, has launched a scathing critique of the decision. He highlighted that cases of starvation are rising "exponentially" globally and condemned the timing of the cuts. "If this was just a UK story it would be bad enough, but we are seeing it is a French story, it is a German story and a US story," Lord Bates told The Guardian. "All these countries are cutting. There will be a time lag but this will cost lives. We have a responsibility to protect these lives."
The criticism is particularly pointed given that last year the UK government itself hosted a two-day conference focused on starvation and malnutrition in Afghanistan. As of last year, nearly 23 million Afghans require humanitarian aid, with 12 million specifically lacking sufficient food. Consequently, the World Food Programme has been forced to shutter 298 relief sites across the country due to funding shortages.
Government Defends Position Amidst Defence Spending Shift and Broader Aid Strategy
Lord Bates labelled the decision to cut aid while simultaneously calling for international action on hunger as "hypocritical." In response, a UK government spokesperson emphasised that Britain remains the fifth largest donor to the WFP globally. The aid reduction forms part of a broader fiscal strategy announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves last year, which saw international aid spending lowered to 0.3 per cent of GDP. This move was made to facilitate an increase in defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP, a policy shift driven by concerns over national war-readiness.
This decision marked a departure from the Labour Party's previous commitment to restore the aid budget to the longstanding target of 0.7 per cent of GDP. The aid cuts have sparked wider condemnation, including from foreign ministers and charitable organisations. In December 2025, critics also highlighted the government's approach of reducing humanitarian aid while channelling funds into initiatives aimed at curbing illegal immigration from Bangladesh.
Charities and UN Sound Alarm on Deepening Humanitarian Crises
Flora Alexander, the UK executive director of the International Rescue Committee, responded to the budget decisions by stating: "With the aid budget at its lowest in decades, every pound must go where it saves lives and tackles the root causes of crisis. That means prioritising fragile and conflict-affected states, where needs are greatest and where smart investment can help reduce the pressures that force people to leave their homes."
The global context underscores the urgency of the situation. The United Nations has issued a stark warning that 55 million people across central and West Africa are projected to face a severe hunger crisis. A concentration of this food insecurity is found in four nations:
- Nigeria
- Chad
- Cameroon
- Niger
These countries collectively account for 77 per cent of the region's food insecurity. Reports indicate that approximately 15,000 people in Nigeria are currently at risk of experiencing "catastrophe" level hunger, or famine, for the first time in nearly a decade. The combination of reduced international funding and escalating need presents a critical challenge for global humanitarian efforts, placing the UK government's strategic choices under intense scrutiny.
