Why should our nation suffer when billions are spent on overseas aid?
The ‘charity begins at home’ argument is widely scoffed at, but no one can deny funding for foreign relief needs urgent review
Is it right that people should be compelled to sell their homes to provide themselves with the civilised care they require in old age? Equally, is it right that our armed forces should face a £50m bill as a result of the massive and heroic help they gave to those suffering from the ravages of Hurricane Irma?
The answer to both these situations should be a resounding ‘No’.
In the first case, a modest increase in National Insurance contributions could probably deal with it and thus allow old people to pass on their property assets to their children.
But, in both cases, the remedy could almost certainly be resolved by taking a fresh look at Britain’s generous overseas aid.
At the moment, it is sacrosanct, because, having been ‘ring-fenced’ by David Cameron,
I fear some handouts are not being monitored rigorously to ensure they reach the right people
it cannot be touched. Well, that could change if the necessary amending legislation were passed.
The ‘charity begins at home’ syndrome is widely scoffed at, but why should our people suffer when their money is being spent abroad in such vast quantities?
And, in other cases, I fear, handouts are not being monitored sufficiently rigorously to ensure they reach the right people; some of it, we are told, even reaching the grasping hands of warlords to buy arms.
Alas, usually requests of this kind are received coldly by officials in Whitehall. But, I repeat: Why should our own people suffer when the overseas aid programme is apparently in such dire need of reform?
Is ‘Spreadsheet Phil’ Hammond the most bumbling, blundering Chancellor of the Exchequer in living memory, whose political antennae, if indeed he ever had any, have simply withered out of existence?
Or is he, in fact, much smarter than most people have given him credit for and just pretending to be gormless? My feeling is that Hammond is, indeed, a lot smarter, acute and well-meaning than many people have suggested.
Sometimes, you cannot help but get the impression former Chancellor, came close to describing Hammond as a Brexit saboteur.
So, the Prime Minister faces a dilemma. Dumping your Chancellor is no minor matter, but how long can she tolerate this continued behaviour from a Chancellor who does not bother even to be subtle in his machinations?
Normally, Hammond’s speeches throw the Commons into a kind of corporate torpor. But he has certainly shaken people awake in the last few weeks.
Whatever happens, I think we can safely promise Theresa May a bumpy, even tumultuous, parliamentary ride between now and Christmas.
❝