• On Wednesday, the UK's International Development Committee published a report warning that cuts in the government's overseas budget could see thousands of women die worldwide. Yahoo News
• According to the assessment, a 76% reduction in aid for Afghanistan could leave women and girls without critical services, while in Africa, women could see a 100% increase in pregnancy-related deaths and hundreds of thousands could lose access to safe abortions. Yahoo News
• The report further predicts that the cuts could deny 500K women and children access to healthcare in Yemen, jeopardize girls' education in Ethiopia, and neglect treating violence against women in South Sudan and Somalia. Guardian (LR: 2 CP: 5)
• Although Official Development Assistance spending will slightly rise in 2023-24 before increasing by 12% to £8.3B ($10.6B) in 2024-25, these plans are actually a reduction to pre-pandemic levels. In 2020, the government announced it would temporarily reduce its overseas aid from 0.7% to 0.5% of Gross National Income. Independent (LR: 2 CP: 3)
• This is the first time the UK has published detailed calculations regarding the impact of its spending reductions — some of which reportedly come after the Home Office spent about 25% of the aid budget on housing refugees, particularly amid a surge in asylum seekers. BBC News (LR: 3 CP: 5)
• Meanwhile, in 2022, the Chancellor of the Exchequer stated that overseas aid spending isn't expected to reach its pre-pandemic levels until 2027. Inews.Co.Uk

Right narrative:

• The pandemic-era aid cuts were undoubtedly a difficult decision, but a necessary one. The UK, facing an unprecedented economic crisis, can only spread itself so thin. As it recovers, so will its overseas aid, as detailed by the government. The Tories will focus on programs addressing humanitarian crises, protecting women and girls, and supporting the world's most vulnerable while delivering value for taxpayer money.
  Spectator (UK) (LR: 5 CP: 5)

Left narrative:

• The UK has made significant cuts to its foreign aid budget, which is both shortsighted and immoral. Reducing aid shrinks the country's global influence and further destabilizes the world, as food crises and conflict force millions to flee their homes. Although the UK has outlined plans to increase aid in the faraway future, its assistance is barely a third of what it was three years ago, which will have untold consequences for the most vulnerable.
  ReliefWeb