The Archbishop of Canterbury was quick to tweet that the temporary cut in the Overseas Aid Budget to 0.5% of GDP is “shameful and wrong”.

That’s a cut from about £15bn to £10bn, less as GDP reduces.

His church has assets of over £8bn but only 0.75m people attend Church of England Sunday services.

When Justin Welby takes a sabbatical next year, he should take time to reflect how some of that money can be used to help the world’s poor, not just his dwindling organisation.

HM Government has already spent huge sums funding vaccine research and the results will benefit many worldwide – that’s foreign aid to my mind, too.

Charity, though, begins at home.

The UK should help itself while helping those overseas.

One way is to gift British-made products to British charities to give to worthwhile projects overseas.

Such products would boost companies in our islands, provide employment and help the poor overseas, resulting in higher tax take for the Treasury and fewer benefit payments – a multiple win-win.

Lester May

Camden Town