Dodds resigns over Starmer foreign aid cuts and impact on Gaza spending
International development minister Anneliese Dodds. has regularly spoken at communal events
Lee Harpin is the Jewish News's political editor
International development minister Anneliese Dodds has quit her post over Keir Starmer’s decision to slash international aid, warning it will be “impossible” to deliver on current spending commitments in Gaza.
In a letter to the Prime Minister, Dodds said she believes he is right to increase defence spending after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which has meant the postwar consensus has “come crashing down.”
But Dodds, also womens minister, wrote to the PM to express concern about Starmer’s promise to maintain aid funding for Gaza, Sudan and Ukraine, as well as for vaccination, climate and for rules-based systems, while also cutting foreign spending.
He had said it pained him to volster defence spending by cutting the aid budget to help pay for the plan to increase military spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 – wih an ambition to hit 3% in the next parliament.
“It will be impossible to maintain these priorities given the depth of the cut; the effect will be far greater than presented, even if assumptions made about reducing asylum costs hold true,” wrote Dodds.
She concluded in her letter: “Ultimately, these cuts will remove food and healthcare from desperate people – deeply harming the UK’s reputation. I know you have been clear that you are not ideologically opposed to international development.”
Dodds has regularly spoken at communal events, including the Jewish Labour Movement’s conference at JW3 earlier this year, and has spoken at Board of Deputies functions.
She has attempted to tred a difficult path of speaking out in support for the Palestinians, while recognising Israel’s right to defend itself.
Although Starmer has pledged to continue with vital humanitarian aid to Gaza, the government is looking closely at an investigation into claims of further UNRWA links to Hamas.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
