THE Unite union called on the government today to reverse its swingeing cuts to international aid funding.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced last week that the aid budget would be cut from 0.5 per cent of gross national income to 0.3 in 2027.

Accounting for the cost of housing asylum-seekers in Britain, this will leave spending on overseas aid at just 0.23 per cent of national income, the lowest-ever share since records began in 1960.

Unite, which represents thousands of workers in the not-for-profit sector, urged ministers to urgently rethink its financial plans.

The union welcomed the announcement of increased defence spending but said that this should not come at the expense of funding for overseas development.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “The government needs to rethink these cuts to international aid funding to ensure that the sector does not haemorrhage jobs and lose vital skills and knowledge.

“In an increasingly uncertain world, we should be adequately funding both international development and defence spending.”

The union is calling for the reversal of the decision to cut international development and the refocusing of existing aid programmes to concentrate on local delivery in developing nations.

Unite national officer Andy Murray said: “The UK has a long and proud history of being a leader in promoting international development. That reputation and commitment must remain in place.

“The previous government did a lot of damage to the UK’s international standing and soft power abroad.

“This government must work with workers and organisations in the sector to ensure that international aid is spent on genuine front-line international development and humanitarian projects in the places most in need.”

The Treasury was contacted for comment.