What Are We Doing To Help The Poorer Nations Through This Pandemic?

[ToraToraTora]

not my question, Thomas from oop north on the Roger just now! Hopefully the answer is sweet FA, we are trying to help our selves through this you wally! We already give 0.7% of GDP to foreign despots as it is! Perlease!

[fiction-factory]

//We have no choice but to meet our obligations re the foreign aid commitment.//

Thanks to David Cameron we ARE committed to it by law, so we'd need to change the law. I wish it could be changed but apart from some Tories who would like to cut the 0.7% figure sufficient Tories support it and all the opposition parties want to retain or increase it so it's unlikely the law will be changed

[fiction-factory]

This may help, Nailit
https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/insights/coronavirus-government-debt-an-explainer/

Even better, this podcast which explains about the current quantitative easing and the problems we may be storing up
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p08d8xgd

[sp1814]

Those who call for international aid to be scrapped are not considering that benefits it brings to the UK.

UK aid is not simply a charitable act or the right thing to do. The UK aid donation helps increase British influence overseas, (and helps underpin national security).

In 2015 there was a Treasury Policy Paper 'UK aid: tackling global challenges in the national interest'. It said that ‘UK leadership in [tackling poverty] will cement our global moral leadership, and make a strong contribution to the UK’s soft power and our ability to project our influence across the globe.’

The UK will also be able to build new trading relationships and even ensure that the issues it prioritises are discussed and accepted across the developing world, all aided by Britain’s development aid agenda.

Softy diplomacy is a huge benefit to the country as well as influence. The problem is - it's an intangible. Because we can't see the immediate benefit, some people think it doesn't exist.

[sp1814]

In case anyone wants a read...

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/478834/ODA_strategy_final_web_0905.pdf

[Spicerack]

You pay for it, then.

[sp1814]

Spicerack

What?

The whole lot?

I'd best start saving.

Awesome, comeback by the way.

[sp1814]

For 'Softy diplomacy' read 'Soft diplomacy'.

Wasn't talking about ice-cream.

[Canary42]

Thank you TTT for your excellent example of how Compassionate Conservatism really operates.

And they used to say "I'm All Right Jack" was a Trade Union attitude - Perlease indeed.

[fiveleaves]

Surely its just a case of doing the right thing. Wealthy nations should be helping poorer nations. 0.7% is hardly a massive amount. We have a moral duty to help

[douglas9401]

Absolutely, as soon as 'poorer nations' take even a few faltering steps to put their own house in order.

Now pass me another atomic bomb, they're so moreish.