Last week, Anneliese Dodds, the International Development Minister, resigned from the government in protest at its decision to cut the UK’s foreign aid budget.
As Dodds highlighted in her resignation letter, these cuts will remove food and healthcare from desperate people, undermining the UK’s global reputation and influence at a time when stability and international cooperation are more crucial than ever.
It takes real courage to stand up for your beliefs at the cost of your job, especially in the current political environment, so I wanted to share with you the letter of support that Compassion in Politics sent Anneliese Dodds this morning, thanking her for her integrity and commitment to compassion.
The letter was co-signed by more than forty academics, charity leaders, business professionals, campaigners, and community advocates. Notably, it includes support from academics at institutions such as Newcastle University, Cambridge University, and University College London, as well as representatives from Compass and the Quakers. Their collective support underscores the widespread concern over aid cuts and the importance of compassionate leadership in politics.
Now is not the time to abandon the most vulnerable. As we say in our letter, What are we defending if we do not protect the values that lie at the heart of this nation?
We understand that difficult decisions need to be made, but the harder times are, the greater the need for compassion and compassionate leadership.
You can read the full text of our letter here:
Thank you for being part of the movement to put compassion at the heart of politics,
Jennifer Nadel
Co-Director, Compassion in Politics