The United Kingdom’s new Labour government is poised to make fresh aid budget cuts within weeks of taking power, after almost £1 billion ($1.28 billion) was diverted to housing asylum-seekers in the country.
The money is being “surrendered” by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office to meet domestic refugee costs — a controversial practice Labour criticized before winning July’s election, but has chosen to continue.
It means the FCDO’s official development assistance budget will be £8.31 billion in the 2024-2025 financial year — £700 million less than the £9.08 billion it spent in 2023-2024 — unless the Treasury provides a bailout later this year.