Theresa May is supporting efforts by Conservative rebels to increase foreign aid spending by 2022.
Mrs May’s former deputy Damian Green and former defence minister Johnny Mercer have also given their support.
In London, Shoreditch MP Meg Hillier has announced her backing of the rebels.
The Labour MP joins eight other committee chairs in a bid to get the government to reverse its cuts to international development spending.
Last year, the government decided to reduce its aid budget from 0.7% of GDP to 0.5%. This means a reduction of almost £4bn.
Conservative rebels say they have enough support to defeat the government in a vote next week.
They hope the Speaker will select their amendment.
Completely agree – morally, economically and in terms of international relations – it’s bonkers to cut Foreign aid now https://t.co/MCS5zrXN8d
— Sarah Champion (@SarahChampionMP) June 3, 2021
Former International Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell said the aid cuts were “having a devastating impact on the ground and are leading to unnecessary loss of life.”
Some projects have lost millions of pounds due to aid cuts.
As a result, projects that support girls education, HIV/AIDS and the humanitarian crisis in Yemen and Syria will miss out on funding.
