New Foreign Office figures show that Labour's cuts to the UK foreign aid budget will reduce bilateral support to some African countries by as much as 90%, with critics warning it signals a shift in Britain's global role.
Key facts
- Bilateral support to some African countries will be cut by as much as 90%, according to Foreign Office figures.
- The reductions stem from Labour's foreign aid budget cuts.
- The Foreign Office's annual report includes a country-by-country breakdown covering the next three years.
- Critics say the figures send a message about the role the UK wants to play on the international stage.
Labour’s foreign aid cuts will reduce the bilateral support the UK provides to some African countries by as much as 90%, according to Foreign Office figures reported by the Guardian.
The department’s annual report includes a long-awaited breakdown showing how the reduction in the aid budget will affect individual countries over the next three years, the Guardian reported.
The publication of the country-by-country detail gives the clearest picture yet of where the cuts will fall, following the government’s decision to reduce the overall aid budget.
Critics quoted by the Guardian said the Foreign Office figures send a “global message about the role the country wants to play on the international stage,” framing the reductions as more than a simple accounting exercise.
The scale of the reductions to bilateral support in certain African nations has drawn particular attention, with the steepest cuts reaching around 90% for some recipients.
The Guardian noted that the figures were long awaited, reflecting sustained interest in how the aid reductions would be distributed across individual countries.
Why it matters
Bilateral aid funds a range of programmes in recipient countries, so reductions on this scale could affect health, development and humanitarian work in some of the world's poorest nations. The figures also signal how the UK positions itself internationally and how it balances domestic spending priorities against overseas commitments.
Frequently asked questions
How much is UK bilateral aid to some African countries being cut?
According to Foreign Office figures reported by the Guardian, bilateral support to some African countries will be reduced by as much as 90%.
Where do these aid cut figures come from?
The figures come from the Foreign Office's annual report, which includes a breakdown of how the reduction in the aid budget will affect individual countries over the next three years.
Why are critics concerned about the cuts?
Critics say the figures send a global message about the role the UK wants to play on the international stage, according to the Guardian.