Penny Mordaunt: Britain will cut foreign aid to richer countries that fail to 'invest in own people'
2 min read
Britain is prepared to cut foreign aid to wealthier countries that fail to invest enough in their own people, Penny Mordaunt has warned.
The International Development Secretary said while she supports the 0.7% of GDP target on aid spending, the Government had to prove to the public that the money “cannot be better spent” on anything else.
She added that the UK will no longer give out aid money "when others should be putting their hands in their pockets" and will use Britain’s £13bn budget to help developing countries "stand on their own two feet".
Writing in the Daily Telegraph, she said: “I will not invest when others should be putting their hands in their pockets. It will no longer be enough for a project simply to be achieving good things.
“I want the governments of developing countries to step up and take responsibility for investing in their own people, in healthcare or education, for example.
“If it chooses not to, that will inform our decisions around our funding. We will continue to prioritise investments in saving lives, tackling undernutrition, improving health and getting kids a quality education.
“But our focus will increasingly be on helping developing countries stand on their own feet and build sustainable health and education systems that they invest in themselves.”
Mrs Mordaunt said while she believes the British people to be charitable, many had “legitimate questions” about whether cash sent abroad could be better spent at home.
“Nagging doubts persist for many about what we are doing, why we are doing it, and how we go about it. It is not that people are ungenerous or uncaring. Quite the opposite. Most people in Britain give to a charity,” she added.
“People consistently dig deep. They volunteer their time as well as their money. They care deeply about others around the world.
“What they question is the weight and resource given to this task by their parliament and their government, especially when there are domestic needs and a national debt to address. I understand those legitimate questions.”
She added that aid spending is necessary for Britain’s security and prosperity however, adding: “It is not in our interest to sit back and wait until these problems come to our shores.”
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