Polls suggest that Labour will form Britain’s next government. What Sir Keir Starmer, its leader, decides on foreign policy will matter. His stance on foreign aid is a test of his priorities
the duty one person owes another tend to stir strong feelings. Take foreign aid. Those on the right of Britain’s Conservative Party see spending on the distant poor as a symptom of wastefulness and wokeism. Boris Johnson once called the aid department a “giant cashpoint in the sky”, dishing out funds without regard for domestic interests.
The big question is how to fix the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office , the mega-department formed from the merger of the aid corps and diplomatic service in 2020. Like many rushed marriages, this one. Top talent is hard to lure. Funding has been cut abruptly, throwing aid projects into disarray. Other departments have pilfered its funds: about 30% of the foreign-aid budget is now spent in Britain, mostly by the Home Office to put up asylum-seekers in hotels.
What might Sir Keir do? He has talked of unpicking the merger. It is easy to see why. Such a gesture would look bold, pleasing party activists who rate him as a timid centrist, lacking in flair. Those who yearn for the return of a powerful, independent aid department would cheer. Unlike many other election promises, this one would be easy to honour. Sir Keir may also believe it would burnish Britain’s image. Paired with a commitment to restore a target to spend 0.
Yet to demerge would be a mistake. One reason is the distraction and cost of re-splitting a traumatised department only just beginning to settle down. Although the execution of the merger was botched, now that the diplomats and aid experts have built one roof they are better staying under it. Another reason is that keeping aid spending and diplomacy bundled together makes sense. The main purpose of the’s aid is to help the poor.
Instead Sir Keir needs to find other ways to make aid work better, as some senior folk in his party are now making plain. Restoring the 0.7% goal would be admirable, showing Britain is serious about being a model donor. But until the public finances improve, the more important ambition is for stability—to provide a predictable aid budget that cannot be raided by other departments.
Belgique Dernières Nouvelles, Belgique Actualités
Similar News:Vous pouvez également lire des articles d'actualité similaires à celui-ci que nous avons collectés auprès d'autres sources d'information.
As Keir Starmer tries to cool the trans issue, his ‘flip flop’ reputation risks hotting upAs Keir Starmer tries to cool the trans issue, his ‘flip flop’ reputation risks hotting up 🔎 Analysis by paulwaugh via ipaperviews
Lire la suite »
Keir Starmer denies 'sneaking out' U-turn on pledge for gender self-IDKeir Starmer also dismissed a suggestion that he would “be stumped over the question” of how to define a woman 💬 “Firstly, a woman is an adult female so let’s clear that one up”
Lire la suite »
ULEZ: Keir Starmer urges London Mayor Sadiq Khan to reflect on schemeThe Labour leader has urged mayor of London Sadiq Khan to 'reflect' on the ULEZ expansion due to the 'impact it's having on people'.
Lire la suite »
Keir Starmer finally gives a definition of what he thinks a woman isLabour leader Sir Keir Starmer has seemingly u-turned on his definition of a woman, saying on Nicky Campbell's BBC 5 live programme 'a woman is an adult female'. His comments come after Labour scrapped its commitments to self-identification.
Lire la suite »
Labour's Ric Metcalfe: 'Lincoln is certainly winnable' in next general electionMixed by-election results for Labour - but they still have eyes on Lincoln 👀
Lire la suite »