UK minister quits after Keir Starmer slashes aid to boost defense spending – POLITICO

But Dodds, resigning Friday, warned it would be “impossible to maintain these priorities given the depth of the cut” and said the effect “would be far greater than presented.”

The former development minister, who previously served as Starmer’s shadow chancellor, warned the move would likely lead to a British withdrawal from numerous African, Caribbean and Western Balkan nations “at a time when Russia has been aggressively increasing its global presence.”

She also claimed the U.K. would have a reduced voice in the G7, G20 and World Bank and be “shut out” of multiple multilateral bodies. She earned against the decision being portrayed as following Trump’s own “slipstream of cuts” to the U.S. Agency for International Development.

Dodds said she had delayed her resignation until Starmer’s meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump Thursday was complete so you “had a united Cabinet behind you.” But losing a close ally will be seen as a blow for the prime minister after his engagement with Trump went down positively.

In a letter responding to Dodds Friday, Starmer praised her “hard work, deep commitment and friendship,” and left the door open to her return by saying she “will have more to contribute in the future.”

But he mounted a robust defense of his move to cut aid, arguing it was not a decision taken without consideration of the consequences and insisting the government will try to find a path back to restoring development spending.