London, United Kingdom, June 11, 2025 — Flora Alexander, Executive Director, IRC UK, in response to the 2025 Spending Review, said,
"The UK should be leading the way in building a safer, fairer world – for people here at home and for communities facing crisis globally. But today’s Spending Review signals a retreat from that ambition.
The government’s decision to protect funding for humanitarian crises in Sudan, Gaza, and Ukraine is welcome. With 25 million people in humanitarian need in Sudan alone, this investment is urgently needed to save lives and support vulnerable communities. The protection of funding for global health and climate resilience is also essential. Continued support for the World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA) represents smart investment that will unlock further funding to tackle extreme poverty.
However, these commitments cannot mask the broader erosion of the UK’s development leadership. A £500 million cut to the aid budget this year, and a projected £6.1 billion reduction by 2027, will have a devastating effect on vulnerable communities and significantly diminish the UK’s ability to deliver long-term, transformative change.
The clarity provided today on the government’s intention to end the use of asylum hotels within this Parliament is welcome. These forms of accommodation have long been unsuitable for people seeking safety, offering neither the dignity nor the stability that individuals and families need as they rebuild their lives.
However, we are concerned by the emphasis placed on deterrence policies that evidence shows do not work. With limited safe routes available, many people fleeing conflict, crisis, and persecution have no choice but to take dangerous journeys. The UK must uphold the right to seek asylum and safety on its shores.
Moreover, in the context of swingeing cuts to the international aid budget, the continued diversion of life-saving funds to cover domestic refugee and asylum costs must end as a matter of urgency. The UK must pursue a fully funded, fair, and effective asylum response – but our development budget must be spent where the British public expects it to be: on life-saving work overseas.
These cuts will harm marginalised communities and undermine Britain’s ability to shape a more stable, secure world. We urge the government to think again and ensure the UK’s international aid and asylum policies reflect both our values and our long-term interests."