Mr Johnson decided to break his promise to voters and slash aid spending to 0.5% - a cut of around £4bn - amid the economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic. Former Tory PM Theresa May is among the senior MPs opposing the plan, alongside ex-Cabinet Ministers Mr Mitchell and David Davis. "Historically, I am a critic of aid spending, but doing it this way is really so harmful." Downing Street hinted that aid spending could exceed 0.5% of gross national income when the donation of coronavirus vaccines is taken into account. Pressed if vaccine donations count as ODA spending, the spokesman said: "The £458 million we spent on Covax so far is ODA.

Source: Daily Mirror June 07, 2021 10:37 UTC