The U.K. government has again altered aid expenditure for the 2025-2026 financial year, according to comments made during a parliamentary committee hearing Tuesday.
U.K. Chancellor Rachel Reeves had announced in the Spring Statement in March that aid cuts would start immediately with a reduction of £500 million from the original budget in 2025-26.
But speaking at the International Development Committee hearing Tuesday, Member of Parliament Sarah Champion, who chairs the committee, said that estimates of government spending on international development received by the committee differed significantly from expectations. Jenny Chapman, the U.K. development minister, said this was done to create fiscal breathing room, given the reductions planned in the coming years. The estimates, which have been made public, indicate £480 million originally earmarked for "core multilateral programs" has been reallocated to FCDO's development finance institution, British International Investment.
About the author
Susannah Birkwood
Susannah Birkwood is a Devex contributing reporter focusing on U.K. aid policy and international development. She has reported on foreign aid budgets, peacebuilding, and the politics of the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, drawing on more than 16 years of experience across newsrooms and NGO press offices. She has overseen major media campaigns for international NGOs, including WWF, ActionAid, and Plan International, and has advised a wide range of charities and INGOs on media strategy and press outreach.
