Britain's Prime Minster Theresa May pauses as she delivers a short speech and Q&A session, at GSK, GlaxoSmithKline, in Maidenhead, England, Friday, April 21, 2017. Britain will hold a general election on June 8. (Leon Neal/PA via AP)
April 21, 2017 - 7:21 AM
LONDON - Prime Minister Theresa May is vowing that Britain will continue spending 0.7 per cent of gross domestic product on foreign aid despite pressure to drop the target.
May, who is campaigning in a national election, said Friday that the commitment "remains and will remain" if her Conservative government is re-elected in June.
May says she is proud British aid helps people around the world, though she said there is a need to "make sure that we are able to spend that money in the most effective way."
Some members of May's Conservative Party want to cut aid spending, arguing the money could be better spent at home.
This week Microsoft founder Bill Gates urged Britain to maintain current aid levels, calling it a good investment for the U.K. and the world.
News from © The Associated Press, 2017