THE SNP have called for a vote on whether foreign aid should be cut after a leaked report showed Westminster is planning drastic reductions to some of the world’s most war-torn countries.
The Foreign Office document obtained by the openDemocracy website reveals that aid to Syria would be cut by 67%, aid to Libya by 63% and aid to Somalia by 60%.
SNP foreign affairs spokesperson Alyn Smith MP has now demanded a full statement and a House of Commons vote on the cuts if the reported figures are accurate.
“If the reports of aid cuts to some of the world’s poorest countries and conflict regions are accurate, then I am truly appalled,” he said.
“It is already deeply regrettable that the UK has betrayed the 0.7% aid commitment at precisely the time the developing world is reeling from Covid – to cut aid further would be unconscionable.
“I am now seeking clarity from the Foreign Office to the veracity of these reports.
“If they are true then there must be a full debate and vote on the cuts in the House of Commons and the SNP will work cross-party to ensure that happens.”
The economic damage done by the pandemic has led the Government to shelve its manifesto commitment to spend 0.7% of national income on overseas aid, cutting that to 0.5%.
The documents obtained by openDemocracy suggest the total bilateral humanitarian aid programme will be cut from £1.5 billion to £900 million.
The leak comes as more than a hundred UK charities condemned the Government’s decision to cut aid to Yemen.
The UK has pledged £87m in aid, down from a promise of £160m last year and £200m the year before.
A Government spokesperson said further decisions were still to be made.
“We remain a world-leading aid donor and we will spend more than £10bn this year to fight poverty, tackle climate change and improve global health,” he said.
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