Foreign aid outrage erupts as MPs plot to thwart Boris' plan to slash £10bn budget


MPs from both the Conservative and Labour Party have moved forward with plans to block the Government’s £4bn cut to foreign aid, sparking widespread outrage. Danielle Boxall, from the Tax Payers’ Alliance, blasted the plan from Tory MPs that could potentially take the Government to court in order to reinstate the entire £10bn aid package. She pointed out that the foreign aid budget including sending millions to China – just a day after China slapped sanctions on British MPs and businesses.

TalkRADIO host Kevin O’Sullivan said: “The Government has been accused of circumnavigating parliament by bringing about a drastic slash to the amount we spend on foreign aid.

“We tend to spend around £10bn and that may be cut back by £4bn. Many Tory MPs have called this an illegal move by the Government.

“They may take the Government to court to reinstate the entire £10bn package.”

He also pointed out: “SAGE have also got involved in the argument and told the Government ‘You must not cut back foreign aid’. What’s this got to do with them? Why don’t they stick to making their models? The intervention is extraordinary!”

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Ms Boxall said that the amount spent on medical help, malaria nets and clean water “only accounts for 17 percent of what we spend – the rest goes to bizarre projects”.

They discussed how the UK spent millions on helping China learn how to grow rice as well as “adapting the Shaun the Sheep animation for China”.

Mr O’Sullivan responded: “When you talk about sending millions to China and India, you are talking about two of the most amazing economies in the world.

“China is the second richest in the world.

“Why are we sending these vast economies more money? They have their own space programmes.

Earlier this week, legal advice given to Tory backbenchers found that the government will be in clear breach of the law and exposed to a judicial review if it presses ahead with a multibillion-pound cut in the UK’s foreign aid programme.

Advice issued by the QC and peer Ken Macdonald said No 10 had acted outside the law when it abandoned its commitment to spend 0.7 percent of national income on aid.

Senior Tory MPs are campaigning to reverse the aid cut and claim they have a Commons majority if necessary to defeat the government.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has defied these claims, insisting the UK had no choice but to reduce its spending on aid. 



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