The United Kingdom is diverting £3.2 billion ($4.1 billion) from its aid budget to pay the hotel bills of asylum seekers — a £600 million year-on-year rise — defying international pressure to stop allocating vast amounts to domestic costs.
Its government has blamed “unprecedented levels of arrivals, primarily through small boats” for the huge increase in aid spending on refugee accommodation bills, which amounted to £482 million as recently as three years ago.
But ministers have been attacked by the chair of Parliament’s International Development Committee for swiping funds meant for “the poorest in the world” and by NGOs for breaking a pledge to get a proper grip on the aid budget.
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About the author
Rob Merrick
Rob Merrick is the U.K. Correspondent for Devex, covering FCDO and British aid. He reported on all the key events in British politics of the past 25 years from Westminster, including the financial crash, the Brexit fallout, the "Partygate" scandal, and the departures of Boris Johnson and Liz Truss. Rob has worked for The Independent and the Press Association and is a regular commentator on TV and radio. He can be reached at rob.merrick@devex.com.
