Bishop accuses Starmer of abandoning world's poorest to fund war against Russia

Sir Keir Starmer is facing criticism from a Catholic bishop after he slashed foreign aid to re-arm Britain and fund Ukraine’s war with Russia.

Bishop Stephen Wright of Hexham and Newcastle accused the Labour Prime Minister of taking a decision that will cripple development in some of the poorest and most undeveloped countries of the world.

“Aid cuts cost lives,” said Bishop Wright, chair of Cafod, the Catholic agency for overseas development of the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales.

He said: “With so many in the world suffering the impacts of poverty, climate change and conflict – not least in Ukraine, Sudan and the DRC – cuts to international aid removes a lifeline for many of our poorest sisters and brothers.