Age International responds to the Prime Minister’s announcement of a UK reduction of international development spending

Age International opposes the Government’s decision today to reduce UK support for international development from 0.5% to 0.3% of gross national income (GNI) by 2027. This move, driven by plans to boost defence spending, is claimed to be in the UK’s national interest. 

Alison Marshall, CEO of Age International, said: 

"The Government’s decision to slash international development spending to its lowest level in over 15 years is shortsighted and damages the UK’s global standing. Set against the backdrop of rapidly reduced international spending by the US Government, this decision will create further uncertainty in some of the world’s most challenging contexts. 

This reduction in Official Development Assistance (ODA) spending will come at the cost of those who are most at risk and most vulnerable to poverty and conflict across the globe, including older people.

Now is not the time for the UK Government to step back from its international obligations and its commitment to return to spending 0.7% of GNI on ODA. This decision will erode the Government’s ability to support economic and political stability worldwide. 

We urge the UK Government to reconsider how it finances the increase of defence spending and to maintain its investment in the fundamental building blocks of international cooperation, as captured in the UN Sustainable Development Goals which a previous UK Government helped to create.”