MPs will hopefully soon have the chance to vote on whether the UK should restore spending on foreign aid to the mandated level of 0.7% of GNI (gross national income). This is surely the right thing to do. First, the arguments in favour of cutting the target to 0.5% are weak. The Government’s case is … Continue reading Why I’d vote against the cuts to UK aid
Tag: foreign aid
Sunak breaks the fundamental rule: ‘first, do no harm’
I’m only just coming to terms with how cross I am about the Chancellor’s speech today. This should have been a relatively uneventful one-year Spending Review, setting departmental limits for 2021-22, and summarising the latest economic and fiscal forecasts from the OBR. But, in my opinion, Rishi Sunak made two big mistakes. First, he got … Continue reading Sunak breaks the fundamental rule: ‘first, do no harm’
‘Global Britain’ shouldn’t be taking an axe to foreign aid
According to The Times, the Treasury is pressing for foreign aid to be cut 'temporarily' from 0.7% of GDP to 0.5% as part of next Wednesday’s Spending Review. I think this would be a mistake. By way of background, the International Development Act of 2015 commits the government to spend 0.7% of national income on … Continue reading ‘Global Britain’ shouldn’t be taking an axe to foreign aid
Plain-speaking Economics 