Keir Starmer accused of ‘hypocrisy’ over aid cut to World Food Programme
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has been accused of hypocrisy after the UK cut funding to the UN’s World Food Program by a third.
The Labor leader pledged to prioritize “fighting hunger” at the G20 summit in Brazil after entering government and pledged to combat “pain and hunger”.
But the UK has since reduced its funding to WFP from $610 million (£448 million) in 2024 to $435 million (£319 million) last year.
His peer, former Conservative aid minister Michael Bates, hit out at the decision, saying hunger cases had increased “exponentially”.
“It would be bad enough if it was just a UK story, but we’re seeing it’s a French story, a German story and a US story,” he said. Guard.
“All these countries are slaughtering. There will be a time delay, but it will cost lives. We have a responsibility to protect those lives.”
Last year the government hosted a two-day conference on hunger and malnutrition in Afghanistan. As of last year, approximately 23 million Afghans needed assistance, and 12 million of them were suffering from food shortages. The World Food Program has closed 298 aid sites across the country.
Mr Bates described the decision to cut aid as “hypocritical” as he called for action.
A UK government spokesperson told the publication that the UK remains WFP’s fifth largest donor.
While Prime Minister Starmer promised to increase defense spending to 2.5 percent due to concerns about the country’s war readiness, he decided to reduce international aid to 0.3 percent of GDP. Rachel Reeves announced the decision last year, despite the party previously promising to bring the figure back to 0.7 per cent of GDP.
In December 2025, foreign ministers and charities lashed out at the UK leader for cutting aid while transferring funds to initiatives to curb illegal immigration from Bangladesh.
Flora Alexander, executive director of the International Rescue Committee (IRC) in the UK, said at the time: “With the aid budget at its lowest level in decades, every pound must go where it saves lives and tackles the root causes of the crisis.
“This means prioritizing fragile and conflict-affected states where needs are greatest and where smart investments can help reduce the pressures forcing people to leave their homes.”
The United Nations has warned that 55 million people in Central and West Africa will face a hunger crisis.
Four countries (Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon and Niger) are responsible for 77 percent of food insecurity. Nearly 15,000 people in Nigeria are now facing food “disaster,” or famine-level hunger, for the first time in nearly a decade, according to reports.
This article was produced as part of The Independent. Rethinking Global Aid project
