Petition · past parliament
Slash the Foreign Aid Budget by at least 50%
Closed
269 signatures
What the petition asks
The arbitrary target for Foreign Aid spending set by the Cameron Government of .7% of GDP is clearly not working.
The Department is struggling to spend all of the budget. 40% ends up being thrown at the EU, the UN & NGOs where we have no control or certainty that our money is being spent wisely.
The Department is struggling to spend all of the budget. 40% ends up being thrown at the EU, the UN & NGOs where we have no control or certainty that our money is being spent wisely.
In 2015 the UK Foreign Aid budge rose to £12.2bn, all of which had to be borrowed.
The Independent Commission for Aid has produced a report saying that "The DfID’s plans are “not fit for purpose”
The National Audit Office has severely criticised the policy. In 2013 the DfID had to spend £2bn in just 8 weeks to ensure the target for spending was reached !
We have budget constraints at home, particularly with defence, the NHS and Education yet the Foreign Aid budget is ring fenced.
Why ?
The Independent Commission for Aid has produced a report saying that "The DfID’s plans are “not fit for purpose”
The National Audit Office has severely criticised the policy. In 2013 the DfID had to spend £2bn in just 8 weeks to ensure the target for spending was reached !
We have budget constraints at home, particularly with defence, the NHS and Education yet the Foreign Aid budget is ring fenced.
Why ?
Timeline
| 21 Dec 2016 | Petition opened for signatures |
| 2 May 2017 | Closed to new signatures |
Key facts
Signatures
269
Status
Closed
Opened
21 Dec 2016
Closed
2 May 2017
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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.