BORIS Johnson faces his biggest rebellion yet tonight as Tory MPs plot to defeat him on slashing the UK’s aid budget.
The row threatens to overshadow the G7 summit — with party chiefs desperate to defuse dissent.
Rebel leaders may be ready to accept a compromise that would see donations of vaccinations counted towards our aid spending target.
Tory MP Tom Tugendhat opened the door to a deal ahead of the showdown Commons vote, saying: “Foreign aid comes in many forms.
“I’m absolutely open to further discussion. This is a sensible negotiation to have with partners in Government.” But he also warned the group is “cautiously optimistic” it has the numbers to humble the Prime Minister.
And he said ministers must “look at the way some of the aid is being cut” to war zones such as Syria and Lebanon.
No10 wants to temporarily cut foreign aid spending from 0.7 to 0.5 per cent of GDP to help public finances.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock insisted the move is “entirely reasonable” as fighting the pandemic has cost hundreds of billions. But more than 30 backbenchers are known to have joined the rebellion, including former PM Theresa May.
If it reaches 40 then, when combined with Labour, Lib Dem and SNP votes, the Government will be defeated.
Live Aid organiser Bob Geldof said cutting the aid would be “vastly damaging”.
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