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The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, warned the government against drastically cutting billions of Britain’s foreign aid budget as part of this week’s spending review, as he called on the country to support the poorest in the world. world in “hard and good times.” .
In a meaningful intervention on the threat to aid spending, Welby said that he had seen first hand the impact of UK aid and how “our generosity and strategic contributions have really changed lives and communities for the better.”
It comes amid an outcry from charities and aid groups after it emerged that the Treasury is considering cutting more than £ 4bn from the aid budget and reneging on its commitment to spend 0.7% of gross national income on helps every year. The plans under consideration would see it temporarily cut to 0.5%. The move is under examination as Chancellor Rishi Sunak examines ways to ease the UK’s record deficit in peacetime.
Welby is the latest to raise concerns: Senior conservatives, advocacy groups and charities have already spoken out. There are also concerns within the cabinet about any cuts. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab hailed the government’s 0.7% aid target as recently as last week.
“I have seen the good done by UK aid around the world,” said the Welby Observer. “Our generosity and strategic input has truly changed lives and communities for the better. In his teaching, Jesus tells us that we should not limit our concept of neighbor simply to those who are close to us. We must heed that message in both difficult and good times.
“A global recovery from the economic consequences of the pandemic requires a global response. Maintaining our commitment to help is a strong sign that the UK is a trusted partner for long-term economic, social, environmental and educational advancement around the world. “
His warning follows similar concerns from former prime ministers David Cameron and Tony Blair, who said on Saturday that a cut in aid to help pay for the consequences of the coronavirus would affect Britain’s “soft power” in world affairs. John Major also has concerns. It comes after Boris Johnson announced a four-year increase of £ 16.5 billion to the defense budget.
Former Foreign Minister Jeremy Hunt has led conservative opposition to the proposal. Last week, he urged Boris Johnson not to “hear any voice in his ear telling how to finance [the extra defence spending] it is a temporary cut in the aid commitment of 0.7% … In a year in which 100 million more people have passed into extreme poverty, I know that he would not want to send the wrong signal to the world about our values as country “.
However, the prime minister has repeatedly sidestepped requests to rule out a 0.7% cut to commitment. Downing Street has said that “there may be circumstances” where suspending the aid target was the right move. The goal is enshrined in law, but can be avoided without a change in the law in times of economic hardship.
Nearly 200 charities and aid groups have already come together to denounce any cuts to the spending target. Some say that a reduction to 0.5% in 2021 would mean a reduction of just over £ 4.6 billion, or 30%, compared to 2019.
The alliance, which includes Save the Children, Greenpeace UK, Christian Aid and VSO International, warned: “When 115 million people appear ready to return to extreme poverty, now is the time for a collaborative international response to Covid. -19. It is a time that requires greater commitment, not decline, from the British government in its efforts to make the world healthier, safer and more prosperous. “
Experts warn that a 30% reduction in aid programs across the board would negatively affect education, clean water and vaccination programs, although ministers could try to encircle some aid schemes and stop others.
The dispute over the budget comes shortly after the merger of the Department for International Development with the Foreign Ministry, a move that also sparked protests. The Conservative Manifesto promised to safeguard the 0.7% spending target.
A Treasury spokesman said he could not comment on the speculation before the spending review was announced.
