The Prime Minister has been accused of putting the needs of overseas countries ahead of hard pressed schools, police and fire services.
Shipley MP Philip Davies said it was wrong that spending on international development is increasing faster than UK priorities.
Speaking in Prime Minister’s Question Time in Parliament he said: “Can the Prime Minister tell the House why she and her Government believe it is right that Government spending is to be increased at a faster rate for overseas aid than for hard pressed schools, policing and fire services in the UK and while this House may be typically out of touch with public opinion on this issue, does she accept the vast majority of the British people think that this warped priority is crazy crackers.”
Mr Davies has repeatedly called for part of the money given to overseas aid to be spent on UK priorities such as education, emergency services, adult social care and helping the vulnerable and disabled.
Theresa May said: “I continue to believe it is right that the United Kingdom maintains its commitment to spend 0.7 per cent of GNI on international development. When I was in South Africa in August I gave a speech which explained how we want to ensure that that International Aid is not just helping the most vulnerable people across the world but also is helping countries to ensure that they can provide the economies, the good governments that will take them out of needing that international development and that international aid in the future. I think it is right we continue with our commitment to the poorest people across the world and help countries to ensure they have a long term sustainable future.”
In 2015 MPs voted in favour of the International Development Bill which committed the UK to spending 0.7 per cent of GDP on overseas aid. Mr Davies opposed the Bill and said it is wrong to fix spending on overseas aid when other departments faced spending cuts to tackle the then financial crisis.
Mr Davies previously uncovered figures which showed much of the money being spent on aid was not helping the poor but more than £1 billion each year was being wasted on consultants.
He added: “It is time Government got in touch with public opinion and spent some of that money on what matters to people in this country such as ploughing more money into our schools, police and fire services and social care.”