To: Boris Johnson, UK prime minister

We’re calling on you to immediately allow MPs to vote on your plans to slash aid to some of the world’s poorest countries.

openDemocracy has reported that your government plans to slash humanitarian aid to war-torn countries such as Syria (by 67%) and Libya (63%), despite recent pledges of continuing assistance. In South Sudan, right as millions face catastrophic famine, you're cutting aid by more than half.

The UN has criticised your plans for drastic cuts to global research funding – warning they will harm efforts to combat diseases like COVID-19 and Ebola. Global anti-corruption experts say your plans will also have disastrous effects on efforts to tackle illicit flows of finance.

You say you believe “the people of this country will think that we’ve got our priorities right.” But these plans weren’t in your election manifesto – and they break existing legal commitments.

If you believe that the people of Britain really back this move, you should immediately allow their elected representatives in parliament to vote on it.