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‘ We are breaking a promise to the poorest people in the world . . . a promise we don’t have to break ‘
Enthusiastic Cameron has led a Tory backlash against the government’s decision to cut billions in foreign aid.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak used his spending review to announce the decision to cut the aid budget to zero. 5 percent of gross national income in 2021, despite the party’s manifesto to protect the current 0. 7 percent contribution.
Mr. Cameron, who was responsible for anchoring the 0. 7 percent legal engagement condemned the decision as a « very sad moment » for Great Britain.
Speaking to Sky News on Wednesday night, he said the government had « broken a promise to the poorest and poorest countries in the world » – a promise that must not be broken. ”
He went on to say that the 0. 7 percent contribution ”said something great about the UK. ”
« We’re not just about fighting global poverty or climate change, or helping those who don’t have what we have in this country, » he said.
“We actually wanted to do something about it, we wanted to lead, we wanted to show the rest of the world. ”
The former Prime Minister’s comments came when Foreign Secretary Baroness (Liz) Sugg resigned in protest against the move.
Baroness Sugg, whose mandate included sustainable development, insisted that promises should be kept in « the difficult times as well as the good times » and described the plan as « fundamentally wrong ». .
In a letter to the Prime Minister, she warned: « The cut in British aid could undermine your efforts to promote a global Britain and reduce our power to influence other nations to do what is right. ”
Boris Johnson said he was « very sorry » to receive her resignation and in response wrote that he was « extremely grateful » for her ministerial service.
Baroness Sugg was previously the Director of Operations and Campaigns on Downing Street under Mr Cameron before becoming a Conservative partner in 2016.
Tory MPs also criticized the plans. Former International Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell warned that cutting the budget could be $ 100. 000 otherwise avoidable deaths.
Mr Mitchell led the Conservative opposition to policies in the House of Commons and it is now likely that there will be a parliamentary showdown if the government comes up with the expected legislation to implement the change.
Defense Committee chairman Tory Tobias Ellwood warned China and Russia that they are likely to expand their « authoritarian influence » due to the « vacuum » the UK has created by « downgrading » its soft power programs.
The conservative Pauline Latham (Mid Derbyshire) also suggested that the cut will affect girls’ education and lead to « more child marriages, more early childhood cases, more FGM, more domestic violence ». .
Britain will be « poorer in the eyes of the world » from the aid cuts, added Jeremy Hunt, former Tory Foreign Secretary.
Justin Welby tweeted, « The relief budget cut – made worse by no set recovery date – is shameful and wrong.
“I and others urge MPs to oppose this for the good of the poorest and for Britain’s own reputation and interests. ”
Environmental and aid fighters warned of the move that threatens Britain’s global climate leadership ahead of the United Nations Cop26 summit next year.
Funding to help poorer countries cope properly with climate change and development is always a central theme in international discussions.
Rebecca Newsom, Greenpeace UK Political Director, said: « This will hamper the ability of poorer countries to address and adapt to the climate emergency and undermine UK diplomatic relations in the lead up to the crucial climate change conference in Glasgow next year. « . ”
The Foreign Secretary is expected to issue a Commons statement on Thursday setting out how the reduced aid budget will be used.
Whitehall sources insisted that by tightly controlling the budget now in the Foreign Office after the DfID was abolished, the government will be able to do more with less.
Mr Sunak said he believed the UK « can still make a difference » as part of government plans, stressing that the government’s « intention » is to go back to its original zero. 7 percent obligation, if the tax situation permits.
But officials admitted there had been rioting in the Tory benches and legislature in parliament could face a fight.
Aid, Rishi Sunak, UK, Liz Sugg, Baroness Sugg
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Ref: https://www.standard.co.uk