Harrogate MP Tom Gordon has welcomed the UK's renewed commitment to national security - but warned the Prime Minister not to fund increased defence spending by cutting the Overseas Development Aid budget.
Speaking in the House of Commons, Tom urged the Prime Minister to commit to protecting the UK’s aid budget from further cuts, warning that both defence and aid are essential pillars of national and global security.
The intervention followed the recent NATO summit, where the Government pledged to increase defence spending to 5% of GDP.
While Tom welcomed the move as a vital investment in the UK’s armed forces and international obligations, he warned that overseas aid must not pay the price.
Tom said:
“I support stronger defence spending – but it cannot come at the cost of our Overseas Aid budget.
“Both are essential to our national security and global leadership. Aid is not charity – it's strategy.”
The Conservative Government first cut the long-standing commitment of 0.7% of Gross National Income (GNI) to 0.5%, and this year’s Spring Statement slashed it even further to just 0.3% – with that money diverted to defence spending.
In his Commons question, Tom pressed the Prime Minister to rule out further cuts.
While the Prime Minister responded by expressing a desire to restore the 0.7% commitment, he stopped short of providing any immediate guarantees.
Tom said that aid spending is "not only a moral obligation, but a strategic necessity" – supporting stability, reducing forced migration, and reinforcing the UK’s global influence.
He said:
“We underestimate the importance of overseas aid at our peril. It is integral to our security and our standing in the world – just like defence spending. It helps prevent conflict, tackles the causes of forced migration, and promotes the UK’s values abroad.
“It’s also the right thing to do. From education for girls to humanitarian support for vulnerable communities, UK aid transforms lives. We can and must do both – defend our country and honour our global responsibilities.”
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