Charlotte Cane MP denounces Government neglect of overseas aid in Parliament

In a recent Westminster Hall debate on the Government’s cuts to Overseas Development  Assistance, Charlotte Cane, MP for Ely and East Cambridgeshire, has voiced her outrage for  successive Government’s record of neglect and funding cuts to international aid and  development. She highlighted that, in the wake of disasters such as the recent Hurricane  Melissa, the UK’s failure to uphold its international obligations is all the more shameful.  

Under the coalition Government (2010-2015), Liberal Democrat pressure saw the UK hit the  UN’s target of spending 0.7% of GNI on international aid and development for the very first time.  Since then, however, the Tory Government announced that it would decrease spending to 0.5%  of GNI and merged the Department for International Development into the Foreign,  Commonwealth, and Development Office. Despite a manifesto commitment to restore UK  spending to 0.7%, the present Labour Government has instead announced further cuts, down  to just 0.3% of GNI. The Tories have recently stated that, if they were to return to Government,  they would cut spending further, to just 0.1% of GNI.  

At the time, the Prime Minister justified this cut as necessary to pay for an increase in defence  spending, a point that Charlotte directly challenged him on in the House of Commons in  February. The Prime Minister dismissed Charlotte’s plea that he find “less damaging ways of  funding” the increase to the defence budget. In Tuesday’s debate, Charlotte once again called  out the Government’s cuts, arguing that:  

“Strengthening national security and stability, and addressing poverty and development abroad  is not a binary issue. They’re both intertwined and both are essential for the other. The  Government’s decision represents a further retreat into insular attitudes when we need to be  doing what we can to tackle poverty and security threats abroad, as well as here at home.” 

Speaking after the debate, Charlotte said:  

“This Government has not only failed to adequately meet its obligations to the poorest and most  vulnerable around the world, but has abandoned its own values and manifesto commitments in  the process. I will continue to fight for increases to international aid, and for the UK to return to  its respected role as a world leader in supporting development abroad.”