United Kingdom, because Johnson has cut the international aid budget
Boris Johnson has to deal with a new controversy. This time on the budget for international aid. The point of Daniele Meloni
After announcing the Christmas truce for 5 days, from 24 to 28 December, and inviting British citizens to remain alert to avoid new infections, Boris Johnson found himself dealing with a new controversy. This time on the budget for international aid.
According to the BBC reports, Foreign Minister Raab should announce a cut in international aid regarding cooperation and development activities for the poorest countries which, according to the International Development Act, are currently set in the House of Commons. to 0.7% of GDP. A figure that remained so even during the years of austerity of the Coalition Government at the explicit will of the then Prime Minister David Cameron.
David Cameron was with Tony Blair one of the most critical of the possible budget reduction, together with the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, who called the reform "a slap in the face to all countries in need and more in search of help of the world ". For the two former Premieres, on the other hand, it would mean a decrease in British influence in the world and a blow – ethical and moral – to British foreign policy. Already during the illustration of the new investment policies of public spending, Chancellor Sunak himself should announce the share of funds that will go to Foreign Aid.
To change the figure, however, we need a law that modifies the Act that sets it at 0.7% of GDP and even if the Government has a parliamentary majority of 79 deputies, it is not excluded that some dissident Tories can vote with Labor and the other parties in Westminster, all against the cut.
Previously, the Johnson government had joined together on international cooperation, announcing the merger of the ministry dedicated to it with the foreign ministry so that "British interests in the world can be pursued with greater coherence", the premier told the municipalities. Two hundred foundations and charities, philanthropists and former heads of the Armed Forces have joined Welby, Cameron and Blair to oppose the cut. Now the word will be up to Sunak and Rahab. What is certain is that the Conservative Government has an idea of international cooperation closely integrated into its leader's Global Britain project, and that the era of rainfalls for organizations and movements outside the British national interest seems to be turning. at the end.
This is a machine translation from Italian language of a post published on Start Magazine at the URL https://www.startmag.it/mondo/regno-unito-perche-johnson-ha-tagliato-il-budget-degli-aiuti-internazionali/ on Wed, 25 Nov 2020 09:58:25 +0000.