To cut overseas aid is a moral failing and a false economy
John Healey, Defence Secretary, Anneliese Dodds, then Development Minister, and David Lammy, Foreign Secretary, after a Cabinet meeting in February (Alamy Stock Photo)
4 min read
We undoubtedly live in a volatile, unstable world. The existential threat of climate change is affecting each and every one of us at varying levels. We live in a global economy stacked in the favour of the few, at the expense of the many, and the cost of living crisis has not gone away.
Armed conflict has, and continues to, devastate people and communities in Ukraine, Africa, the Middle East and in numerous other corners of the globe. In short, the world – and particularly the working class – are facing enormous challenges which seem daunting if not outright overwhelming.
Against that international backdrop, and in the context of growing inequality in the UK, our government’s response to the challenges of today and tomorrow should be shaped by the very values and principles the Labour Party was founded on. That includes respecting human rights, compassion and fighting for social justice.
This is a political decision because we know funds could be raised in other ways
To cut overseas aid is a moral failing. It is also a poor financial choice and a false economy. Foreign aid is an investment in global security and a brighter future. By committing to making the world a better and safer place, we can avoid huge security expenses down the line.
Helping others in need is our duty as human beings. It also means fewer people are being left behind in desperate situations, which often fuel radical ideas and action. Promoting rule-based systems, reducing the impact of climate change, and working towards other overseas development goals are long-term investments in our own national security.
The UK must show leadership on the world stage, especially when hostile nations like Russia and China are aggressively pushing their own presence.
Let us not push people to the brink. Let us prevent conflict, rather than deal with the deadly consequences that arise from inequality and insecurity. I am horrified at the prospect of cutting aid in areas already devastated by conflict, such as Sudan, Yemen, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Syria and Gaza.
We recently marked International Women’s Day and I spoke in Parliament about the inequalities that still exist today. Women and girls, especially in those areas hit by conflict, absolutely need our help. Cuts always hit the hardest for those who are already marginalised.
UK aid helps provide food and shelter in times of conflict. It supports efforts to eradicate preventable diseases thus saving lives and it assist girls in areas of education and health.
In some countries supported by aid provided by Britain, the number of children who die before the age of five has reduced by half. Britain’s record on aid is something to be proud of. We should use our powers to be a force for good around the world.
Cuts by the UK government do not come in isolation either. Last month, the new administration in Washington decided to halt almost all of its aid. USAID accounted for more than 40 per cent of the support provided globally and the devastating impacts are already laid bare.
AIDS and HIV clinics across Ukraine, Uganda, Liberia and South Africa are experiencing severe medicine shortages. Meanwhile in Sudan, USAID has closed around 80 per cent of the emergency food kitchens supporting those left with nothing due to the civil war.
We cannot turn our backs on those facing extreme poverty, war and insecurity. We cannot allow our credibility to be diminished.
This is a political decision because we know funds could be raised in other ways, for instance by introducing a wealth tax of just two per cent on those with assets worth more than £10m. The levy would raise around £24bn and allow the UK to invest in foreign aid to promote peace. And there would be plenty left over to right wrongs, fight injustice and support vital domestic services too.
The UK government rightly needs to adjust to new realities, but cutting foreign aid is simply not the answer.
Brian Leishman is Scottish Labour MP for Alloa and Grangemouth
