Starmer’s cut to aid budget a ‘strategic mistake’, says former army head

<p>Exclusive: Gen Lord Richard Dannatt warns ‘shortsighted’ move will ultimately add to burden on Britain’s armed forces</p><ul><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/feb/27/britain-armed-forces-cut-aid-fund-defence">Richard Dannatt: I ran Britain’s army. I know what it needs. Don’t cut aid to fund defence</a></li></ul><p>Keir Starmer’s decision to reduce the foreign aid budget in order to pay for increased spending on defence is a “strategic mistake” that will ultimately add to the burden on Britain’s armed forces, a former head of the British army has warned.</p><p>Gen Lord Richard Dannatt, who is one of a number of former military chiefs and figures who have called on the government <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/feb/15/starmer-bin-history-fails-raise-defence-budget-ex-army-head">to boost its defence spending</a> above the 2.5% GDP target, said the prime minister’s decision was “shortsighted” and “dangerously counterproductive”.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/feb/27/keir-starmer-foreign-aid-defence-budget-richard-dannatt">Continue reading...</a>