Not Before Time

[Jordyboy9]

Theresa May freezes nearly £1 BILLION of foreign aid to stop taxpayers' cash being wasted

[ToraToraTora]

way to go Tezza!

[Baldric]

How, Why, What, Where?

[Zacs-Master]

http://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/835322/Foreign-Aid-Theresa-May-taxpayer-money-wasted-Mark-Sedwill

[Togo]

Good. That is a start, now look at all the other vanity payouts and divert the dosh to our needs.

[fiction-factory]

Won't any savings on this apect of foreign aid spending just go elsewhere in the Foreign Aid budget though?

[albaqwerty]

it's a start at least.

If SHE can do it, what stopped previous PM's from doing similar?

[Zacs-Master]

ff, as it's currently law committing Britain to meet a United Nations target of spending 0.7 per cent of Gross Domestic Product, then yes in theory it will be diverted.

The validity of this law is a whole different argument.

[fiction-factory]

From the article:
"David Cameron pledged to commit 0.7 per cent of the gross national income on foreign aid, and Mrs May has maintained the pledge."

I'm not sure whether this is a vanity project or not- looks more like political influence spending to me ("Conflict, Stability and Security").

I'm sure we could reduce FA spending to say 0.5% and no-one would notice (saving maybe £2 billion pa) but it'll need a big change in attitude and it certainly wouldn't get past a parliamentary vote now

[Zacs-Master]

Yes, there's the rub ff.

[Baldric]

If it's going to go elsewhere in the Foreign Aid budget it's hardly being saved, is it?

[Zacs-Master]

I think that's the point ff and myself are trying to make. Note the word 'frozen' not 'cancelled'.

[sp1814]

It's only frozen pending a review.

Also, from the article:

He wanted to use the cash to boost British interests abroad by helping allies such as the Baltic states counter the effects of Russian and Islamic State power, without weapons.

Sounds like a sensible use of funds on the face of it, but the review should seek to clarify.

[ToraToraTora]

our own law ZM, repeal that pronto.

[youngmafbog]

Unfortunately Mrs May lost the majority she needed to do that.