BREAKING: The ONE campaign is formally asking the UK government to justify the legality of its decision to cut international development aid. ft.com/content/efbc8739-5bba…

PRESS ZOOM: “We're talking about stopping aid to severely malnourished children in the middle of treatment. Closing clinics supporting pregnant women, newborn babies. It’s absolutely excruciating. I am in tears every single day." Gabriella Waaijman, COO @save_children

Money raised from the sale of Chelsea which was supposed to benefit victims of the war in Ukraine has still not been released. The Foreign Office has confirmed that the proceeds from the £2.5 billion sale almost three years ago remain frozen in a UK bank account.

A statement from our CEO @MoazzamTMalik on the news that the government is cutting the UK aid budget to fund an increase in defence spending: “We are stunned by this decision to cut the aid budget in order to increase military spending. It is a betrayal of the world’s most vulnerable children and the UK’s national interest. By jeopardising the UK’s partnership with countries across the world and international organisations, it signals a withdrawal from efforts to tackle climate change, global poverty and inequality, and conflict and humanitarian needs. It will damage efforts to tackle global health needs and pandemics. It will add to economic instability internationally. The impacts will have direct consequences for children and families in the UK as well as around the world. This decision comes at a time when global solidarity has never been more important. Other countries will watch the UK’s decision and are likely to follow suit in reducing commitments to international collaboration. It will undermine aspirations to build a ‘rules based order’ that is so essential for the UK’s long-term security and prosperity. It will make the world a more dangerous place for children now and in the future. This decision flies in the face of the government’s commitment to respectful partnerships with the global south. There is nothing respectful about slashing lifelines for families in the most dangerous places. Earlier this week, the Prime Minister promised to ‘stand with Ukraine’. Now he’s serving notice on the support needed by the country’s children, who have been forced from their homes, seen their schools bombed and lived in fear for three years. Through UK aid, we all help protect children facing the worst the world has to offer. We have every reason to be proud of it and the government should fearlessly protect it.”