Despite mass public support for the policy, left-wing Labour MPs plan on launching a rebellion against the Prime Minister.
Left-wing MPs are preparing for their latest major rebellion against Keir Starmer, after the Prime Minister sparked liberal fury when cutting the foreign aid budget to increase defence spending.
However in an embarrassing moment, the planned rebellion has leaked ahead of time, undermining its impact.
A letter, being sent around sympathetic MPs asking for their signature, slams Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves’ decision as balancing the government’s “books on the back of the world’s most marginalised people”.
It continues: “This is a political decision, not an economic necessity – and sources of financing are available which punish neither British voters nor the world’s poor.
“Whilst it might seem like cutting the aid budget is more politically palatable than other cuts, the British public are generous and open minded.
Labour MPs are planning a rebellion (Image: Parliament Live / Getty)
“We feel confident they would rather see money taken from billionaires rather than taken away from children in Sudan.”
The letter is being coordinated by new MP Brian Leishman, a Scottish hardliner, who earlier today blasted the increase in defence spending altogether and demanded the government put extra money in the NHS and police instead.
He claimed: “A wise man once said that the same determination should be applied to meet the needs in peace as in war.”
The rebel MPs plan on demanding Keir Starmer fund the defence uplift with a new wealth tax of 2% on assets over £10 million.
They claim it would raise £24 billion annually, however opponents say it would merely encourage capital flight by Britain’s wealthy and cost the Treasury money.
Earlier today YouGov released a poll revealing that his policy of cutting foreign aid to fund the defence spend increase is one of his most popular announcements since winning the election.
YouGov records mass support for Sir Keir’s new policy (Image: YouGov)
Just 20% oppose the policy, just 7% of whom say they strongly oppose it.
Labour voters are the least supportive overall, however it still achieves 61% overall support.
Reform UK supporters are overwhelmingly supportive at 91%, versus just 5% opposing.
Tackled about the cut to foreign aid by Labour MPs this afternoon, Sir Keir repeated his argument that he made the decision reluctantly.
The PM said: “I do want to restore aid and development funding as soon as fiscal events allow. It’s a principle I believe in, I’m proud of what we’ve done.”“In the mean time I want to explore with others what other levers we can have to increase aid and development without necessarily increase the spend within the government budget.”
He suggested leveraging cash from the private sector in the government’s place.
