Starmer Accused of Hypocrisy Over Sharp Cuts to World Food Programme
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has been accused of hypocrisy after his government implemented significant funding reductions to the United Nations World Food Programme, despite his public commitments to tackle global hunger and starvation. The UK's contribution to the WFP has been slashed by approximately a third, dropping from $610 million in 2024 to $435 million last year, as part of broader austerity measures in the aid budget.
Funding Reductions Amid Global Hunger Crisis
This substantial cut comes at a time when cases of starvation are reportedly growing exponentially worldwide, according to critics. The reduction forms part of a wider decline in UK aid spending, which campaigners warn is directly endangering lives by limiting essential humanitarian assistance. Notably, the government has also failed to make any financial pledge following a two-day conference it hosted last year focusing on starvation and malnutrition in Afghanistan, further highlighting the disparity between rhetoric and action.
Michael Bates, a former Conservative aid minister in the House of Lords, condemned the cuts, stating: "If this was just a UK story it would be bad enough, but we are seeing it is a French story, it is a German story and a US story. All these countries are cutting. There will be a time lag but this will cost lives. We have a responsibility to protect these lives." Bates labelled the government's approach as "hypocritical", arguing that it contradicts the UK's historical leadership in global development.
Broader Context of Aid Spending Shifts
The controversy stems from a pivot in government priorities, where aid spending is being reduced to reallocate funds towards defence. Historically, the UK committed to spending 0.7% of gross national income on development in 2015 to align with UN targets, but the Conservative government later reduced this to 0.5%. Upon entering office, Starmer told a G20 summit in Brazil that his administration would prioritise "the fight against hunger" and address "suffering and starvation". However, last year, he announced that aid spending would be further cut to 0.3% of GDP from 2027, to increase defence spending to 2.5% of national income by the same year.
This shift reflects a global trend, with the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development projecting that total global aid fell by 9% in 2024 and is expected to drop by between 9% and 17% in 2025. Additionally, UK spending on global humanitarian causes is being strained by the decision to use part of the aid budget on asylum seekers already in the country; the Home Office anticipates spending £2.2 billion of overseas development assistance this financial year on hotel bills alone.
Government Response and Ongoing Commitments
In response to criticism, a government spokesperson defended the UK's position, stating: "When we took the difficult decision to reduce our aid budget to allow more to be spent on defence and security, our funding for humanitarian support including to address hunger was relatively protected, and we recognise how important food assistance is for those in need. The UK is the fifth largest donor to the WFP, which remains a vital partner."
The spokesperson also highlighted recent aid announcements, noting that in October, the prime minister pledged an additional £20 million in UK aid to ensure water, sanitation, and hygiene services reach tens of thousands of civilians across Gaza, supplementing the £74 million already committed. Despite these efforts, the sharp reduction in WFP funding continues to fuel accusations of hypocrisy, as displaced Palestinians, including children, rely on distributions of flour and food packages from the UN agency to survive.
