The resignation of Anneliese Dodds, the International Development Minister, over cuts to the aid budget is a shock on many levels. After all, it is almost unheard of for a senior politician in office to quit because of some political belief or principle. Dodds deserves praise for sticking up for her values, even – and most importantly – at the cost of her political career
Dodds decided she had to go in the wake of Keir Starmer’s decision to slash the international aid budget by almost half to pay for an increase in defence funding. Dodds revealed she was only told about the move on Monday but held off resigning so as not to overshadow the Prime Minister’s crucial visit to Washington for talks with Donald Trump.
Dodds is right to stand up for what she believes
The impact of cuts to the aid budget will be “far greater than presented”, opines Dodds in her resignation letter.
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