McConnell: Cutting aid is a mistake

FORMER first minister Jack McConnell has criticised Keir Starmer's cuts to overseas aid and warned the decision erodes the first line of defence against conflict.

- BY HANNAH RODGER

The Labour peer is one of the most senior figures to condemn the Prime Minister after he cut aid to boost defence spending.

Speaking exclusively to the Sunday Mail as his charity prepares to send hundreds of girls to school in Malawi as part of a four-year scholarship programme, McConnell has questioned the Labour leader's judgment.

He said: "Education support is being withdrawn.

"It's bad judgment. Cutting small aid budgets to contribute to a big increase in defence budgets ignores reality.

"To prevent conflict you need to do the work that prevents the causes of it - that includes education."