UK foreign aid budget being spent in Britain - BBC Newsnight

The government is now spending more of the UK's foreign aid budget at home than on direct help for poor countries overseas, development experts say.

More than £4bn meant for development aid will be spent in Britain this year, largely to support rising numbers of asylum seekers and refugees.

This means less money can be spent elsewhere, because the total budget is capped at 0.5% of national income.

The government insists the UK remains one of the largest global aid donors.

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#bbcnews #bbcnewsnight

[_ArsNova]

"Country spends its own money on its own citizens wellbeing"
Oh the horror!

[knockedoutloaded]

Only the BBC could think there's something wrong with the British government looking after British people

[TheFost]

The UK has a £2.8T national debt, yet we're borrowing more money in order to give it away to other countries. There should be no foreign aid budget unless the government has a budget surplus. If these countries desperately need the money, they have the ability to borrow it themselves.

[jackryan]

The Uk has to prioritize its citizens. That’s a fact

[liju]

UK budget should be spent in UK since there is no appreciation from those third world countries anyway, none whatsoever

[avarmauk]

UK isn’t exactly thriving right now, nor do we have an optimistic outlook for the coming decades. If we foresee a steady decline, then maybe we should focus on ourselves for the time being.

[jaxxoceans]

And I can't get a GP appointment smh

[liam]

We need to support our own people first. Look at the giant budget deficit and massive national debt

[webapple]

so many people living on the streets/doing it tough in their own country how do you explain to them that someone in a foreign country gets aid but no them?

[Moviesevaa]

If the UK is one of the biggest contributors, it is about time some other countries whether more powerful or less stepped in and gave the UK a break. We are in a mess ourselves at the moment, that money should be used on us.

We are already in massive debt, a cost of living crisis, the NHS is failing, education is lacking and pensioners get paid peanuts. Yet we send out billions a year in foreign aid and also help the most vulnerable who travel to our land (refugees, illegal immigrants etc.) just for us to be tarnished as an intolerant, ignorant and selfish nation.

Though, let’s not forget that a lot of other countries choose to ignore these types of people and put a lot of the blame on us for apparently not doing the job properly when they don’t want to deal with it themselves. Whereas the british people are just told to put up and shut up, with our streets getting ever more dangerous and our futures uncertain by the day.

Hard working British people are fed up with this lingo, who go about their day to day lives plodding along and struggling to get by themselves. There are way too many problems at home, and it is about time we truly exploit that “selfish” narrative that everyone loves to project on us and look after our own, because no other nations appreciate our countries genoristy! And once we back off I’m sure they’ll realise they have some big shoes to fill.

[joanneadair]

If we have to financially look after those coming over the Chanel then we can't be expected to pump money into the countries from where they came from or others. We are not a financial bottomless pit.

[serendipity]

If people want to give overseas aid then it should be voluntarily not forced on British people who can hardly afford to look after themselves.

[rboddington]

Finally!! It needs to be spent in Britain!!!

[gregmoore]

Apparently, The UK spends over 10 billion Pounds a year on foreign aid, our NHS is just over 100 billion Pounds a year; how about we spend several years shoring up the NHS with about 10% more money and stop aid completely! I am sure after a few years' lack, foreign aid will be much more gratefully appreciated!

[SharonPiano]

I recently saw a video of a British woman who works as a cleaner not able to afford living. She said toast was a luxury.

[fullofsuprise]

Spreading british soft power? That's so ironic and uncandid

[truethat]

UK needs to give $2 trillion reparations for 200 years of colonization.

[UpTheArgyle]

Good. We need to defend the realm before being a charity

[chrisgooner]

Joke! Need to house the people who were born in this country properly first! Now there’s no chance!

[asadmalik]

Expected especially with the cost of living crisis