Public Vote Required on Overseas Aid Spending

We call on the Government to consult the British public and hold a vote before sending taxpayer money overseas. The people should decide whether funds are prioritised for foreign aid or invested in our own National Health Service, Armed Forces, and essential services at home.

Across the United Kingdom, many citizens believe it is unfair that their hard-earned taxes support other nations while communities at home face declining services, stretched resources, and rising costs of living. Schools, hospitals, infrastructure, and defence require urgent attention. The public deserves a direct say in how their money is spent and whether domestic stability and recovery should come before international financial commitments. MPs are not reflecting the will of the people!

The Government recognises that taxpayers expect public money to be spent responsibly and that many people have strong views on how public spending should be prioritised. Parliament provides democratic oversight of these decisions through debates, legislation and scrutiny of Government spending plans.

The UK is a representative democracy. Decisions on public spending, including Official Development Assistance (ODA), are made by elected Governments and are scrutinised and approved by Parliament through established constitutional and budgetary processes.

At the Spring Statement 2025, the Government took the decision to reduce Official Development Assistance (ODA) spending to 0.3% of GNI by 2027 to support increased investment in defence and security spending at a time of heightened global instability. Despite this reduction, the UK remains committed to international development and will continue to focus ODA on humanitarian crises, climate and nature, global health and economic development. By helping to reduce poverty, strengthen economies and address the drivers of conflict and instability, ODA supports a more stable and prosperous world, with positive benefits for the UK’s own security and prosperity.

Parliament has legislated for the UK’s approach to aid spending. Under the International Development Act 2015, the Government is required to assess each year whether fiscal conditions allow a return to spending 0.7% of GNI on ODA. The Office for Budget Responsibility's latest forecast shows that the fiscal tests for returning to 0.7% are not expected to be met within this Parliament. The Government will continue to review this position each year against the latest fiscal forecasts.