A thread for everybody interested in whether @BorisJohnson and @RishiSunak are intent on breaking a manifesto promise from the @Conservatives to both the country and some of the poorest people in the world and cutting our life-saving, world-changing #UKAid.
The view from the @CBItweets and the International Chambers of Commerce. Cuts to #UKAid would “hamper gains made on social and economic development, which are prerequisites for businesses to trade". ft.com/content/d0e3f6…
The moral case for keeping to 0.7% on #UKAid as made by the Archbishop of Canterbury. "We mustn’t limit our concept of neighbour simply to those close by to us. We need to heed that message in the tough times as well as the good". theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/n…
The diplomatic case against cuts to #UKAid, as made Tony Blair who chaired the Gleneagles G8 in Scotland and David Cameron who chaired the Lough Erne G7 summit in Northern Ireland. telegraph.co.uk/politics/2020/…
General Lord David Richards (former chief of defence staff) says cuts to #UKaid hurt us, "it's hugely in the UK's interests to be as generous as possible, and it's much cheaper than fighting wars", echoing the view from General Mattis in the US.
https://twitter.com/RDarlo/status/1329412802474283008?s=20
Here's the former Chief Economist at the IEA. "It’s not a good look for one of the world’s richest countries to be cutting aid to some of the poorest in the midst of a global crisis let alone at the same time as we are trying to launch ‘Global Britain". julianhjessop.com/2020/11/17/glo…
Here's the view from Scotland. Ruth Davidson wants the #UKAid promise kept.
https://twitter.com/RuthDavidsonMSP/status/1330622787917148164?s=20
Gordon Brown, chair of the London G20, explains why different promises can't be traded-off against each other and we have to honour our commitments on both defence and #UKAid.
https://twitter.com/SkyNews/status/1329349195891937280?s=20
Bill Gates says "It's never made less sense to cut foreign aid than right now, Covid-19 has reminded us viruses don't respect border laws; they don't check your passport before entering your lungs". #UKAid bbc.co.uk/news/uk-550327…
Here are the numbers about the implications of the proposed cut in #UKAid. As many as 100,000 preventable deaths, mainly of children, according to Conservative former Secretary of State Andrew Mitchell in the Telegraph.
https://twitter.com/SpeakUpForAid/status/1330127876289683460?s=20
Former Foreign Secretary @Jeremy_Hunt says #UKAid is a test of who we are.
https://twitter.com/Jeremy_Hunt/status/1328686325390848003?s=20
Conservative MP @AnthonyMangnal1 in the Telegraph says of #UKAid "this is an important link, not just to the world’s poorest people, but a link to [Joe] Biden, to America and to the UK standing on a platform in which we are indisputably a world leader". telegraph.co.uk/global-health/…
Conservative Chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee @TomTugendhat says #UKAid is vital for UK soft power.
https://twitter.com/TomTugendhat/status/1328700932700434433?s=20
Conservative Chair of the Defence Select Committee @Tobias_Ellwood says our G7 Presidency requires every tool, including our #UKAid promises.
https://twitter.com/Tobias_Ellwood/status/1328674517967835138?s=20
Unequivocal support for our #UKAid promise from Conservative groupings the @ToryReformGroup and @OneNationCons.
https://twitter.com/ToryReformGroup/status/1330432133995900928?s=20
Here's Bob Geldof in the Sunday Times on the proposed "sad, mean and unnecessary pickpocketing of money meant for the weak, the wretched, the poor and hungry" in advance of our G7. Bob knows a thing or two about a G7/8 summit. #MakePovertyHistory #UKAid.
https://twitter.com/SpeakUpForAid/status/1330445887005450240?s=20
187 charities oppose the proposed cuts to #UKAid. Colleagues relieving suffering in some of the most dangerous and difficult situations in the world deserve the full support of our government - support they were promised. theguardian.com/global-develop…
The view from British universities - "a terrible time for the UK to cut foreign aid". theguardian.com/global-develop…
MPs from seven parties, including the Conservative father of the house Peter Bottomley speak out about proposed cuts to #UKAid. theguardian.com/global-develop…
The view from the Editor-in-Chief of @TheLancet @richardhorton1 on proposed cuts to #UKAid.
https://twitter.com/richardhorton1/status/1330451803205464064?s=20
Sir Bob Neill, Conservative chair of the Justice Select Committee warns that a cut to #UKAid will damage UK's influence post Brexit. Joins Justine Greening in speaking out in the Standard. standard.co.uk/news/politics/…
Former cabinet minister Baroness @NickyMorgan01 joins many senior Conservative colleagues in opposing cuts to #UKAid.
https://twitter.com/BritainLeads/status/1330835989099671552?s=20
Ruth Davidson in the Times. If the PM decides to break a manifesto commitment and #UKAid promise enshrined *in law* what will he say to other leaders come COP or G7 about why they should keep their international commitments?
https://twitter.com/ruthdavidsonmsp/status/1331136700819574785
Justine Greening on #R4Today on #UKAid cuts, “we get the world to show up by showing leadership - on both aid and defence”, arguing the logic of hitting the defence target to persuade others applies equally to aid, especially as we approach G7 and COP.
Winner of the Nobel Peace Prize @k_satyarthi says a truly #GlobalBritain would use the G7 to rally more support for children instead of cutting #UKAid.
https://twitter.com/k_satyarthi/status/1331261783479177219
The view from a senior fellow at the Adam Smith Institute - proposed cuts to #UKAid don’t take account of how it has already been reformed.
https://twitter.com/s8mb/status/1331190082049601536
Green groups warn #UKAid cuts risk worsening the climate crisis and undermining U.K. leadership at COP. @BorisJohnson @AlokSharma_RDG theguardian.com/environment/20…
Tobias Ellwood makes the case for taking a long term view, including of any implications of a #UKAid cut for the UK's seat on the UN Security Council.
https://twitter.com/SkyNews/status/1331340481771560965?s=20
Sky News report says that if @RishiSunak makes cuts to #UKAid at the levels proposed it will be the biggest aid cut by any country in history.
https://twitter.com/SkyNews/status/1331354985637015554?s=20
Here is the view of the Chair of the Least Developed Countries Group in the UN Climate Change negotiations - "we need more solidarity, not less". Calls on the UK government to keep #UKAid levels.
https://twitter.com/LDCChairUNFCCC/status/1331272553898323968?s=20
Times front page says plans to cut #UKAid now opposed by FIVE of @BorisJohnson’s predecessors as PM. You can do the maths about the political balance.
https://twitter.com/hendopolis/status/1331362186543964160
Here @nicholaswatt explains the hurdles @BorisJohnson needs to clear to cut #UKAid - the law, his 2019 manifesto and a growing rebellion in his own party.
https://twitter.com/bbcnewsnight/status/1331371352331350016
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