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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". https://www.ft.com/content/d0e3f6df-3fef-4678-aeb6-a7f6a92bf0c4
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". https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/nov/21/justin-welby-warns-against-cutting-britains-overseas-aid-budget
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. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2020/11/20/exclusive-david-cameron-tony-blair-warn-against-proposed-cut/
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". https://julianhjessop.com/2020/11/17/global-britain-shouldnt-be-taking-an-axe-to-foreign-aid/
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 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-55032781
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". https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/climate-and-people/commitment-worlds-poorest-government-urged-preserve-aid-budget/
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. https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2020/nov/20/boris-johnson-urged-to-commit-to-aid-budget-after-defence-boost
The view from British universities - "a terrible time for the UK to cut foreign aid". https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2020/nov/22/a-terrible-time-for-the-uk-to-cut-foreign-aid
MPs from seven parties, including the Conservative father of the house Peter Bottomley speak out about proposed cuts to #UKAid. https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2020/nov/22/mps-from-seven-parties-urge-government-not-to-cut-overseas-aid
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. https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/britain-foreign-aid-cuts-coronavirus-boris-johnson-b72215.html
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 https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/nov/24/aid-budget-cuts-will-worsen-the-climate-crisis?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
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
Malala speaks out on proposed cuts to #UKAid, citing @BorisJohnson’s commitment to education and the need for funding. https://twitter.com/malala/status/1331373681696763911
John Major says “cutting our overseas aid is morally wrong and politically unwise. It breaks our word and damages our soft power. Above all, it will hurt many of the poorest people in the world. I cannot and do not support it”. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/five-former-pms-oppose-move-to-cut-foreign-aid-grgblkq2t
Friends of team @JoeBiden give the BBC the view from the US on proposed cuts to #UKAid. Former White House Chief of Staff @johnpodesta speaks out. https://twitter.com/bbcjlandale/status/1331516019878354944
Here are the previous relevant statements from senior members of the government, including @BorisJohnson, on the #UKAid target of 0.7. https://twitter.com/alexwickham/status/1331507920941375490
Conservative former First Secretary of State @DamianGreen tells the @Telegraph on #UKAid cuts "there is a lot of unease across the Conservative Party about breaking manifesto commitments. I know dozens of my colleagues will be wary of supporting that”. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2020/11/24/rishi-sunaks-bid-cut-foreign-aid-budget-could-thwarted-parliament/
Conservative Foreign Affairs Committee chair @TomTugendhat says this "isn’t just about proving Britain as a force for global good. Aid and development also matter because short term crises abroad could ... spread and become problems of our own". https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/comment/were-in-a-diplomatic-arms-race-if-we-cut-aid-well-fall-behind-gcs8llhz0
More internal Conservative opposition to #UKAid cuts. From MP Mark Garnier and Baroness Jenkin. https://twitter.com/cfidinfo/status/1331578108521099264
Response from Save the Children to #UKAid cuts. https://twitter.com/saveuknews/status/1331588259332419585
Response from former No 10 @BorisJohnson Special Adviser to #UKAid cuts. https://twitter.com/montie/status/1331586342141227008
Conservative Father of the House Sir Peter Bottomley reminds MPs that Conservative manifesto applies to PM, Foreign Secretary and Chancellor too and said they all said in 2019 they’d meet 0.7% of GNI in #UKAid ‘proudly’. Not a distant promise in his view.
Conservative former Secretary of State Andrew Mitchell says the real world consequence of #UKAid cuts is up to 100,000 preventable deaths. https://twitter.com/rdarlo/status/1331598990102712323
The view on #UKAid cuts from Conservative MP Pauline Latham. https://twitter.com/drayjames/status/1331600330283421696
The view from the Global Health Security editor at the @Telegraph, echoing the Archbishop of Canterbury too. #UKAid https://twitter.com/paulnuki/status/1331600338244263939
Now FCDO Minister Baroness Sugg resigns over cuts to #UKAid. She was @BorisJohnson’s hand-picked envoy on his ‘personal priority’ around educating girls. https://twitter.com/tnewtondunn/status/1331605905071353856
Malala, one of the five women @BorisJohnson admires most, expresses her dismay at #UKAid cuts. She’s often credited as the inspiration for the PM’s thinking on education. https://twitter.com/malala/status/1331602845804662784
Conservative former minister Harriet Baldwin’s view on #UKAid cuts. https://twitter.com/robdothutton/status/1331617544181067777
‘The Tory case for overseas aid’ as made by @JournoStephen in the @spectator, responding to today’s #UKAid cuts from @BorisJohnson and @RishiSunak. https://twitter.com/journostephen/status/1331623174010769409
The view from the former Moderator of the Church of Scotland on #UKAid cuts. https://twitter.com/derekbrowning2/status/1331628688358723584
Another Conservative opposing #UKAid cuts - former No 10 special adviser and ex @csjthinktank chief Christian Guy. https://twitter.com/christianguy_/status/1331627733676417025
The view from former Conservative Secretary of State Rory Stewart on #UKAid cuts. https://twitter.com/RoryStewartUK/status/1331633629097672704
Former Conservative PM David Cameron’s view on the #UKAid cuts made by @BorisJohnson and @RishiSunak today. https://twitter.com/itvnewspolitics/status/1331636690209943552
The view from the Archbishop of York on cuts to #UKAid. https://twitter.com/cottrellstephen/status/1331619627953164289
" @CapX was founded to make the case for popular capitalism". Their view on the #UKAid cuts: "this will save a few billion, but 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 crisis". https://twitter.com/CapX/status/1331644572124983296?s=20
The view on #UKAid cuts from Conservative former Secretary of State Stephen Crabb. https://twitter.com/scrabbpembs/status/1331606428935708675
Here’s the view on #UKAid cuts from a former Ambassador and foreign policy adviser to three British PMs. https://twitter.com/tfletcher/status/1331708013581901828
