overseas aid

Bill Gates has joined a chorus of international development voices criticising the government cutting billions in overseas aid spending in the Budget.

On Wednesday, Chancellor Rachel Reeves chose not to renew a £2.5bn top-up to the UK's overseas aid budget introduced by the Tories to compensate for the huge amount of foreign aid being spent housing refugees and asylum seekers in hotels.

Following the announcement, Mr Gates said the UK "withdrawing" from its overseas aid role "leaves us all at greater risk".

In its so-called “red book” setting out the Budget details, the Treasury acknowledged the government had spent “an increasing proportion” of overseas aid on refugees and asylum seekers which had “significant implications” for aid spending overseas.

As first minister, Jack McConnell was able to secure a role for Holyrood in overseas aid which is a UK responsibility.