This week saw the first International Development questions of the new coalition government; unfortunately it revealed the Conservatives are already fudging their promises on aid.
This week saw the first International Development questions of the new coalition government; unfortunately it revealed the Conservatives are already fudging their promises on aid. In their manifesto, the Tories pledged to “legislate in the first session of a new Parliament” to enshrine in law that 0.7 per cent of gross national income (GNI) will be spent as official development assistance.
They also vowed in their Coalition Programme for Government to continue the UK’s international leadership on aid and meeting the Millennium Development Goals. But as we reported last week, a Bill on 0.7% was missing from the Queen’s Speech.
Questioning this, Gareth Thomas, former Minister of State at the Department for International Development asked:
“Will not one telling signal of the new Government’s willingness to show leadership on this issue be whether they bring forward legislation to put the UN’s aid target of 0.7% on the statute book before [the MDG] September summit?”
In his answer, international development secretary Andrew Mitchell refused to give a timetable for the 0.7% Bill, saying only:
“If he will bide his time in patience, he will see that that is precisely what we will do.”
His answer confirmed by omission that legislation would not be on the statute book by the time of the MDG summit and will undermine the UK reputation for international leadership that Labour has passed on to the coalition; Labour left the coalition a draft Bill that had been scrutinized by the International Development Select Committee, so why the delay?
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26 Responses to “Tories break promise to legislate on 0.7% in first parliament”
Anon E Mouse
David Taylor – Do you know nothing about the system of government we use in the UK or are you simply another Labour lacky who’s upset his party lost the election?
And your remark:
“His answer confirmed by omission that legislation would not be on the statute book by the time of the MDG summit and will undermine the UK reputation for international leadership that Labour has passed on to the coalition; Labour left the coalition a draft Bill that had been scrutinized by the International Development Select Committee, so why the delay?”
His answer by omission? Talk about reaching and the “international leadership” nearly made me fall off my chair laughing.
I’m not normally one for using bad language but I ask: With this article; Are you f*#king serious?
Rachael Wardell
RT @SJ_Consigliere: Tories break promise to legislate on 0.7% in first parliament: http://bit.ly/cta0QT @leftfootfwd #condemnation #cond …
David Taylor
‘Anon E Mouse’ – yes. I’m serious about our commitments to the world’s poorest people. I’m glad that makes you ‘laugh’. Well done.
Anon E Mouse
David Taylor – Surprise surprise you try to equate dissent with the flawed position you advocate with not caring about the worlds poor. Charming.
Let me guess David – you voted Labour at the last election. Why don’t we just stick to facts here and not your incorrect conclusion. Try this:
Since the coalition government came to power how much LESS has been sent in overseas aid?
(The reason I fell off my chair laughing was your “international leadership” remark – tell me how the poor in Afganistan (one of the poorest countries in the world) were helped by Britain dropping bombs on them? That isn’t leadership David – grow up).
Who pays your wages btw because this non-story smacks of someone trying to justify his salary…
Anon E Mouse
David Taylor – I forgot to ask where your evidence for the promise being broken was.
I am sorry but I’m still laughing about the “international leadership” bit – a classic remark!