BRITAIN can no longer be considered a “global aid superpower” as failures in funding commitments will lead to thousands of women and girls dying in pregnancy or childbirth, according to MPs.

A report by the cross-party international development committee is scathing in its assessment of the government’s decision to slash aid, accusing ministers of abandoning marginalised groups around the world.

The committee found budgets for sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) projects were reduced or cancelled entirely, often without notice.

Cuts to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office’s (FCDO) funding for multilateral organisations working in this area had the deepest impact on the most marginalised, it added.

Women and girls and people with disabilities were the most affected — and relationships with both aid partners and those receiving support were damaged, while Britain’s reputation as a “credible and serious partner” was tarnished.

Britain’s aid budget has “faced numerous pressures” since 2020, resulting in the FCDO’s spending falling from £11.8 million in 2019 to £7.6m in 2022.

Committee chairwoman Sarah Champion cited the United Nations which last year declared “the world is failing girls and women.”

The Labour MP said: “The UK has had a long proud history of diplomatic and aid programming support of SRHR.

“But last year’s Equalities Impact Assessment from the FCDO showed the horrifying numbers of women and girls, thousands upon thousands, who will once again face unsafe abortions and who will die in pregnancy or childbirth as a direct result of the UK’s slashed aid spending.”

The committee called on the government to make a new commitment to women and girls and reinstate funding and targets.

The FCDO was approached for comment.