Up to £2.68 billion ($3.37 billion) could be diverted back to U.K. aid programs overseas because its crackdown on refugee rights will prevent the funds being spent on domestic asylum costs, a watchdog says.
A new law banning asylum claims by anyone arriving without permission will mean their accommodation bills cannot be counted as official development assistance, or ODA, the Independent Commission for Aid Impact has confirmed, as Devex previously revealed.
ICAI has gone further by estimating how much less in-country spending the United Kingdom could allocate as ODA in the future, after the raiding of the budget, in its words, “wreaked havoc” on Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office programs.
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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.
