UK Labour Leader Starmer's Plan to Tackle Hunger Falls Flat as Funding for World Food Programme Cuts by Third
Labour Party leader Keir Starmer has been accused of hypocrisy after slashing funding to the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) by a third, despite pledging to tackle "suffering and starvation". The UK government has reduced its contribution to the WFP from $610 million in 2024 to $435 million last year as part of a wider reduction in aid spending that campaigners warn is putting lives at risk.
Starmer's decision to cut funding for the WFP comes after he told a G20 summit in Brazil that his administration would prioritize "the fight against hunger" and tackle "suffering and starvation". However, last year, Starmer announced that aid spending would be reduced to 0.3% of GDP by 2027, with increased defence spending to 2.5% of GDP over the same period.
Critics argue that Starmer's plan is hypocritical, given the significant cut in funding for the WFP. Former Conservative aid minister Michael Bates described the decision as "a French story, it is a German story and a US story", with all major donors reducing their contributions to the WFP. "All these countries are cutting," Bates warned, "and this will cost lives. We have a responsibility to protect these lives."
The UK government claims that the funding cut for the WFP was relatively protected compared to other areas of aid spending. However, critics point out that this decision has come as part of a broader trend of reduced global aid spending, with total global aid expected to drop by 9-17% in 2025.
Furthermore, the UK government's use of aid funds for asylum seekers already in the country has raised concerns about priorities. The Home Office plans to spend £2.2 billion on hotel bills alone this financial year, while the WFP provides critical support to millions of people worldwide struggling with hunger and poverty.
The Labour Party leader's decision to prioritize defence spending over tackling hunger has sparked widespread criticism, with many questioning how he can justify cutting funding for a program dedicated to addressing global food insecurity. As the global community grapples with rising cases of starvation and malnutrition, Starmer's response raises serious questions about the UK government's commitment to addressing these pressing issues.
Labour Party leader Keir Starmer has been accused of hypocrisy after slashing funding to the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) by a third, despite pledging to tackle "suffering and starvation". The UK government has reduced its contribution to the WFP from $610 million in 2024 to $435 million last year as part of a wider reduction in aid spending that campaigners warn is putting lives at risk.
Starmer's decision to cut funding for the WFP comes after he told a G20 summit in Brazil that his administration would prioritize "the fight against hunger" and tackle "suffering and starvation". However, last year, Starmer announced that aid spending would be reduced to 0.3% of GDP by 2027, with increased defence spending to 2.5% of GDP over the same period.
Critics argue that Starmer's plan is hypocritical, given the significant cut in funding for the WFP. Former Conservative aid minister Michael Bates described the decision as "a French story, it is a German story and a US story", with all major donors reducing their contributions to the WFP. "All these countries are cutting," Bates warned, "and this will cost lives. We have a responsibility to protect these lives."
The UK government claims that the funding cut for the WFP was relatively protected compared to other areas of aid spending. However, critics point out that this decision has come as part of a broader trend of reduced global aid spending, with total global aid expected to drop by 9-17% in 2025.
Furthermore, the UK government's use of aid funds for asylum seekers already in the country has raised concerns about priorities. The Home Office plans to spend £2.2 billion on hotel bills alone this financial year, while the WFP provides critical support to millions of people worldwide struggling with hunger and poverty.
The Labour Party leader's decision to prioritize defence spending over tackling hunger has sparked widespread criticism, with many questioning how he can justify cutting funding for a program dedicated to addressing global food insecurity. As the global community grapples with rising cases of starvation and malnutrition, Starmer's response raises serious questions about the UK government's commitment to addressing these pressing issues.
! Labour Party leader Keir Starmer's plan to tackle hunger sounds super nice on paper, but in reality it's just a bunch of hot air 
. Cutting funding for the UN World Food Programme by a third is not only hypocritical, but it's also putting lives at risk 
. I mean, what's more important - defence spending or feeding people? 
It's like they're saying "we'll protect you with our guns" vs "we'll feed you and help you survive". That's just not right 
.
. £2.2 billion for hotel bills for asylum seekers? That's insane! Meanwhile, millions of people are struggling to find their next meal. It's like they're saying "we'll give you a roof over your head, but not a plate of food" 
.
. Where's the leadership on this one? We need someone who's going to stand up for the people, not just for their defence spending budget 
. #JusticeForTheHungry #NotMyPM #PrioritiesMatter
! I'm all for making smart decisions and sticking to a budget, but come on Keir, really? You're gonna slash funding for the WFP by a third, which is basically cutting off life-saving support for millions of people worldwide, and then you're gonna go around talking about how much you care about tackling hunger? It's just not adding up 
is this how hes gonna fix hunger?? 
I'm not buying it... 
. The UK government's whole thing is just super confusing and it seems like they're more worried about their own spending than actual people suffering abroad 
. Anyway, gotta call 'em out on this one 
.
I'm so disheartened by this news 
while pledging to tackle hunger and starvation 
. It's like saying you're going to save a whale but then dumping it in the ocean 
. 
The fact that the UK government is slashing funding by a third 
and other countries are doing the same 
is not only alarming but also makes sense given the current economic climate 
. However, Starmer's decision to prioritize defence spending over tackling hunger is not just about budget allocation 
.
. We can't just talk the talk without walking the walk 
. The lives of millions are at risk here 
We need a world where everyone has access to food and clean water 
. It's not just a moral issue, but also an economic one 
!
. I don't get it. The UK government's aid spending is already down, and now this? It's like they're playing a game of whack-a-mole – cut one program, but another just pops up in its place 
. We need leaders who are gonna stand up for the people, not just their politicians 
? 
and we need leaders who are willing to take action not just tweet about it 
stats: 9-17% drop in global aid spending in 2025... total global aid expected to dip 
meanwhile the WFP is gettin' the axe 
.
. And what really gets my goat is that the UK government is still planning to spend £2.2 billion on hotel bills for asylum seekers in the country this year... Meanwhile, people are actually starving worldwide 
.
he promises to make a difference but ends up cutting funding for the world food programme by a third? that's, like, totally hypocritical 
I'm so worried about what's happening with food security around the world... it's like, we're talking about saving lives here, but our leaders are making decisions that feel really tone-deaf