Comment: We must fix our broken promise on overseas aid

06/04/2021

Writing in the Evening Standard, Archbishop Justin Welby and Cardinal Vincent Nichols urge the Government to put right its broken promise on overseas aid. 

Syrian refugee camp in the outskirts of Athens.

 

Covid has taught us many things, of which one of the most important is that we depend on each other around the world. We have each, in the last few days, prayerfully remembered with gratitude all that we hold dear. Our freedoms, our safety, our health and that of our families, and of course our faith: these are all very precious. We have each benefited recently from coronavirus vaccinations. How fortunate we are.

And how much we long for all our sisters and brothers, wherever they are and whatever they believe, to know the same security. The pandemic has reminded us that no one is safe until we are all safe. Our lives are connected.

Of course, our traditions and scriptures have taught us this for centuries. We must not walk by on the other side, and love must prevail over fear when it comes to our global neighbours.

In the small print of the recent Integrated Review of defence, diplomacy and development was a pledge to return the aid budget to 0.7 per cent of Gross National Income. This would honour the many promises made and deliver on the duty imposed by Parliament. But saying the Government will only do this “when the fiscal situation allows” is deeply worrying, suggesting that it will act in contravention of its legally binding target. This promise, repeatedly made even during the pandemic, has been broken and must be put right.

We are already seeing hastily implemented cuts to countries like Yemen, Syria and South Sudan doing real damage to life-saving work. Promises – and truth – matter in politics, as in all walks of life. Real damage has been done. But it is never too late to do the right thing.

This year, the Prime Minister will host two critical international gatherings, which will go a long way to deciding the fate of global efforts to tackle climate change and recover from the pandemic. The G7 in June in Cornwall and the COP26 UN climate negotiations in November in Glasgow are events which remind us that we are one world, and that Britain cannot prosper if it shrinks from its international responsibilities.

Just as the UK has shown leadership on Covax and efforts on vaccination, so we must show leadership on the climate crisis and that requires leadership on international development. Keeping our promises to the world’s poorest people would be a good start. Balancing the books during a pandemic on the backs of the world’s poorest is not acceptable, when Britain should be setting an example and proving our standing as a world leader.

Ultimately however, this is not only about ‘global Britain’, it is about morality and fulfilling our promise to people who live in poverty. Too often we use the phrase “The world is watching”, but on this occasion it is true. We must rise to the occasion.

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