Boris Johnson is facing a Tory revolt today after finally agreeing to a vote on slashing foreign aid spending during the pandemic.
The PM has been under fire for months over the decision to cut the international development budget from 0.7 per cent to 0.5 per cent.
The government has previously dodged putting the issue before the Commons, amid widespread criticism from Conservatives of the £4billion reduction on funding after coronavirus hammered the economy.
However, in a surprise move designed to wrongfoot rebels, Leader of the House Jacob Rees-Mogg announced a debate and vote for today.
In a sign of Mr Johnson's determination to face down the uprising, he will open the debate and it will be closed by Chancellor Rishi Sunak - who has been lobbying hard for support from MPs.
Rebels are hoping up to 50 Tories will line up against the proposals, with sources telling MailOnline it is 'all to play for'.
Former Cabinet minister and ringleader Andrew Mitchell urged MPs not to be 'hoodwinked' by the government's compromise.
Boris Johnson has been under fire for months over the decision to cut the international development budget from 0.7 per cent to 0.5 per cent
The government has been trying to win round potential Tory rebels including Theresa May (right) and Andrew Mitchell (left)
The IFS has estimated that the reduction means more than £4billion less a year going on foreign aid
Mr Sunak has been trying to build support for his plan to keep the budget lower for four or five years, until government borrowing stabilises.
However, there could still be significant opposition in the chamber when the debate happens this afternoon.
If the government loses it has promised that spending will return to 0.7 per cent from January next year.
The UK has long been one of the few countries that sticks to the international target of committing 0.7 per cent of national income to aid spending.
The showdown remains a high-stakes gamble, but there is optimism in Government circles that Mr Sunak's charm offensive, coupled with the element of surprise, might be enough to head off a damaging defeat.
One-time rebel Huw Merriman said: 'I have looked at the Treasury's statement on a proposed compromise on UK aid. It's a sensible approach which respects the spirit of our 2019 manifesto in a more challenging 2021. I'll be voting for it tomorrow.'
The Treasury slashed the aid budget last year after the pandemic triggered a record Budget deficit of £400billion. Sources said the move was designed help avoid cuts to public services at home.
Opinion polls suggest the cut was supported by the public. But it has angered the aid sector, which has threatened legal action – a prospect that will recede if today's vote goes through.
At the weekend, billionaires led by Microsoft founder Bill Gates tried to shame the Government over the cut by announcing they would give £100million in emergency funding to save projects threatened by the reduction in UK aid this year.
Mr Sunak's compromise plan involves a new Treasury
