Rishi Sunak’s spending review is already dividing opinion in the Tory party. The Chancellor has confirmed reports that he intends to go back on a Tory manifesto pledge and cut foreign aid from 0.7 per cent of GDP to 0.5 per cent. He insisted this amounted to a one-off cut — the idea being that it will be a ‘temporary’ response to exceptional circumstances — and the exceptional strain on public finances as a result of coronavirus.
As the current target is written into law, the understanding is that the government will likely have to pass new laws in order to cut its overseas aid budget. This has led to fresh concern among critics of the plan that it could mark a much longer period than a year of reduced foreign aid, which is set to be slashed by £4 billion. If, as expected, this goes to a vote, it could be tight for the government.
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