UK's Boris Johnson Avoids Aid Cut Rebellion On Eve Of G7
Umer Jamshaid Published June 07, 2021 | 10:58 PM
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's government on Monday avoided a potentially embarrassing rebellion over cuts to the overseas aid budget, just days before the UK hosts the G7 summit
London, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 7th Jun, 2021 ) :British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's government on Monday avoided a potentially embarrassing rebellion over cuts to the overseas aid budget, just days before the UK hosts the G7 summit.
Johnson's government has faced bitter opposition from its own ranks over the breaking of a manifesto promise and slashing aid by billions of Pounds this year to protect public finances damaged by the pandemic.
But the prime minister was spared his first possible parliamentary defeat since a 2019 landslide election victory on the basis of a technicality.
Speaker Lindsay Hoyle told parliament the rebel amendment forcing the government to make up the shortfall on overseas aid elsewhere fell "outside the scope of the bill".
However, he hit out at the government for stalling a vote on the decision to no longer meet a legally enshrined commitment to spend 0.7 percent of gross national income (GNI) on aid.
"The government should find a way to have this important matter debated and to allow the house formally to take an effective decision," the speaker said, adding he would allow a debate on the issue on Tuesday.
Conservative lawmaker Andrew Mitchell, a former international development secretary who spearheaded the rebellion, said the government was treating MPs "with disrespect" and potentially "acting unlawfully".
"In the week of the British chairmanship of the G7, the government's failure to address this issue will indisputably mean hundreds of thousands of avoidable deaths will result," Mitchell said.
"It is already attracting criticism from all around the other members of the G7." Mitchell said he had believed he could have overturned the ruling party's 80 seat majority by at least nine votes.
- 'Life and death issue' - Conservative figures including former prime minister Theresa May have denounced the changes to aid, arguing the cut to 0.5 percent of GNI would leave Britain as the only member of the G7 nations not meeting the 0.7-percent target.
The debate has been unwelcome for Johnson before this weekend's leaders summit in Cornwall, southwest England, but he has said the cuts are needed due to pandemic expenditure.
Britain paid out around �15 billion ($20 billion) in overseas aid last year before the cut of around �4.5 billion was implemented.
Meanwhile emergency pandemic support measures have sent UK annual borrowing rocketing to the equivalent to 14.5 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) -- the highest level since World War II.
The government has said it will return to 0.7 percent of national income -- a broader measure than GDP -- "when the fiscal situation allows".
But the critics, who fear the cut could become permanent, argue its impact is too severe to institute even temporarily.
Every surviving former prime minister -- from May to David Cameron, Gordon Brown, Tony Blair and John Major -- opposes the cut.
"It's a life and death issue, we're actually deciding who lives and who dies," Brown told BBC radio on Monday.
"It makes absolutely no economic sense, but particularly no moral sense," he added.
Brown called government claims that the public supported a temporary cut "a myth".
"I think people know that while charity begins at home, it should never end at home, because we've got responsibilities and benefits from working with the rest of the world."
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Pakistan takes on Ireland in inaugural T20I series on Friday
ICCI organize ceremony to express solidarity with Armed Forces of Pakistan
Religious affairs ministry awards top talent in Hifz-o-Qirat competition
Collaborating with Sindh Government, KMC extends operations to 50 towns": Mayor ..
Call for Tobacco Tax Increase to Safeguard Child Rights and Public Health
OIC resolutions on Kashmir collective voice of Islamic world, reinforcement of P ..
Spanish bank BBVA goes hostile in Sabadell takeover bid
Pakistan's total liquid foreign reserves surge over $ 14.45 billion
Boeing passenger plane exits runway in Senegal injuring 11
PML-N ulema wing stresses punishment to May-9 culprits
No reprieve for perpetrators of May 9 arson attacks: PM
Punjab governor terms May 9 dark chapter in country’s history
More Stories From World
-
Boeing passenger plane exits runway in Senegal injuring 11
2 hours ago -
Pakistan eyes green energy, technology cooperation with China in CPEC 2nd phase
2 hours ago -
Charities warns Italy's ban on NGO planes risks lives
2 hours ago -
Israel hits Rafah despite US warning on arms transfers
2 hours ago -
Boeing plane leaves runway in Senegal injuring 11
2 hours ago -
Israel says Biden threat to stop arms 'very disappointing'
2 hours ago
-
Marquez eyes French MotoGP victory but plays down title talk
4 hours ago -
Football: French Ligue 1 table
4 hours ago -
Football: French Ligue 1 table
5 hours ago -
Spanish court shelves Shakira tax fraud case
5 hours ago -
North Africa football fans use stadium freedoms to back Palestinians
5 hours ago -
Rafah struck after Biden warning on arms transfers
6 hours ago