A Tory MP has told the World Bank to “keep their opinions to themselves” in a row over foreign aid.
The anti-poverty international financial institution said cuts to Britain’s overseas aid budget have “caused real pain” and called for a return to “higher levels” of funding.
But Conservative MP Jonathan Gullis insisted it is right that spending has been reduced amid cost of living pressures and the small boats crisis.
The Stoke-on-Trent North MP told the Express: “The World Bank should keep their opinions to themselves. The UK has done and continues to do loads to support international aid.
“But with a cost of living crisis and the UK being swarmed with illegal economic migrants, it is right that British taxpayers’ money is spent on these immediate priorities.
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“Why doesn’t the World Bank spend time moaning at those who have never been as generous as the UK?”
The UK was previously the biggest single donor to the World Bank’s International Development Association fund, but contributions have halved to £500 million a year.
Foreign aid spending has been temporarily reduced since 2021 from 0.7 percent of gross national income (GNI) to 0.5 percent. This amounted to a total of £12.7 billion last year.
Senior managing director Axel van Trotsenberg told the BBC: “Every dollar counts, every dollar that we get saved lives.
“The way I look at this fund is how you actually save lives… so this caused real pain.”
He added: “We want the UK back at higher levels.”
A Government spokesperson said: “The UK is one of the largest aid donors in the world – we have spent nearly £12.8billion on aid in 2022 – which is more than many other G7 countries and is helping to reduce poverty, alleviate the devastating impacts of climate change and protect the world’s most vulnerable people.
“Our Overseas Development Assistance is supporting people across the world, and last year responded to drought in East Africa, food shortages in Afghanistan and flooding in Pakistan.”
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