The government has revealed that aid spending in 2025 fell by over £1 billion – a 7.4 per cent decrease on the previous year. Over 18 per cent of the budget continued to be spent in the UK to cover asylum and refugee costs.

The popular narrative that wealthy developed nations have been generously pumping money into the Global South belies the fact that they drain nearly three times more money out of developing countries than they give: mainly interest payments on debt and profits reaped by multinational companies. The government needs to find other ways to pay for extra defence spending, such as by raising income tax. This would be a step towards the “true conversion” on to “a sustainable path rich in human fraternity” for which Leo pleaded in Africa this week.

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