Boris Johnson news – live: PM criticised for slashing Yemen aid by 60% as Hunt labels move ‘incomprehensible’

Boris Johnson sits in front of a Union flag inside 10 Downing Street (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Boris Johnson sits in front of a Union flag inside 10 Downing Street (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
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The UK government is under fire after more than halving its aid to Yemen, where hundreds of thousands are living in famine conditions and millions more are short of food.

James Cleverly, the Middle East minister, announced at a UN donor conference on Monday that UK aid would fall to £87m, from £214m in 2020. The UN had been seeking a total of $3.85bn (£2.76bn) in assistance for Yemen.

The move was met with outrage from charities and MPs. Jeremy Hunt, former foreign secretary, said he was “deeply disappointed” and Save the Children accused the government of abandoning starving children.

Meanwhile, Labour has warned chancellor Rishi Sunak against raising taxes in his Budget, urging him instead to focus on securing the recovery. Shadow chancellor Anneliese Dodds said now is “not the time” for tax rises, but signalled the party could support a hike in corporation tax in future.