Ed Miliband thought to have expressed unease at cabinet meeting while MPs across party have condemned idea

Cabinet ministers including Ed Miliband have raised concerns over Keir Starmer’s decision to slash overseas aid to pay for increased defence spending, as dozens of Labour MPs from all wings of the party expressed alarm at the plan.

After aid agencies warned that the decision to cut the UK’s aid commitment from 0.5% of GDP annually to 0.3% would have a devastating impact in many areas, several MPs condemned the idea as shortsighted and unjustified.